Seichi Marchiori, R (2025) Optimizing heat stress prevention in construction industry through a comprehensive approach integrating sensing devices and training program. PhD thesis, Arizona State University, USA.
Abstract
The construction industry is one of the most hazardous sectors worldwide, characterized by dangerous working conditions, particularly in extreme environments such as high temperatures, which increase the prevalence of heat-related illnesses. These illnesses can severely impact workers' health and safety. Therefore, it is crucial to provide regular training to enhance workers' awareness of heat-related illnesses and equip them with the necessary skills to prevent such incidents. Additionally, there is a notable gap in research on specific factors such as early symptoms, cognitive impairment, and fatigue caused by heat on construction sites. This dissertation addresses this gap through four main studies. The first study evaluates the feasibility and benefits of using Evidence-Centered Design, an educational methodology, in designing a heat stress training program that increases workers’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards heat dangers. Subsequent studies involve experiments conducted at varying temperatures where participants performed labor tasks on a real construction site in the Southern USA. The first study assesses cognitive impairment in construction workers exposed to heat, using cognitive tests to measure workers' reactions, concentration, and memory. Results indicated a 16% to 35% decrease in cognitive responses throughout the workday, with a more significant decline in working memory as temperatures increase. The second study explores the effects of heat on workers' physical fatigue by monitoring core body temperature and their perceived exertion rates in real-time. Findings showed a 3-point increase in perceived exertion over the day and with increasing temperatures. Despite high core body temperatures, 35% of workers reported low exertion at times. The third study tracks early symptoms of heat-related illnesses, relating core body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen consumption alongside reported symptoms every 10 minutes. Initial findings included heavy sweating within the first 40 minutes, followed by shortness of breath, fatigue, and reddened skin. Notably, all participants exhibited symptoms after a core body temperature increase of 0. 7°F to 1. 0°F, with symptoms perceived even at lower temperatures. Research also suggests that oxygen consumption is more indicative of heat stress progression than core body temperature or heart rate.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Song, S |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction site; fatigue; health and safety; monitoring; safety; skills; training; working conditions |
| Index terms: | illness, cognitive test, working conditions, construction worker, dissertation, prevention, construction industry, heart, heat stress, high temperature, monitoring, construction site, fatigue, experiment, body temperature, health and safety, consumption, program, impairment, methodology, evidence |
| Subjects: | cognitive psychology, research methods, medical science and clinical practice, financial risk, health safety and environment, evaluation and assessment methods, research dissemination and communication, practitioner, consumer economics, health conditions and diseases, environmental health, thermal systems, industry analysis, software systems, employment law, work location, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data collection methods, control systems |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Site Management, Digital Applications, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here