Evaluation of Heat Stress on Bakery Worker in Makurdi Benue State, north east Nigeria.

Abstract

Nigeria being a tropical nation with high temperature and some Nigerian bakeries use mud oven which expose workers to direct contact with heat increasing their risk of heat stress. This research work tends to evaluate heat stress on bakery workers in Makurdi, Benue State. Forty questionnaires were validly filled and handed in from the workers at the various bakeries.  Data such as age, duration of exposure as well as heat stress estimation and satisfaction level were filled in and data were analysis using statistics and results shows that heat stress reduces efficiency and productivity in workers poses health risk in workers such as heat cramps, heat rashes and in severe cases even heat stroke which may threaten the life of these workers. The results from measurements in this work has shown that bakery workers in Makurdi metropolis are highly exposed to heat stress and are likely to experience one disorder or the other with possible death consequences.  It was also found that heat stress is often an overlooked problem as most workers lacked proper knowledge of control measures and employers have made little or no effort to prevent heat stress disorders.