Knowledge and attitude of tile industry workers in the field of heat stress management

Falah Aliabadi  S; Heydari  A; Ardian  N

doi:10.18502/tkj.v16i3.16871

Falah Aliabadi S Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
Heydari A Department of Health in Disaster and Emergencies, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Ardian N Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Non-communicable Diseases Research Institute, Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tkj.v16i3.16871

Keywords: Heat stress, Workers, Knowledge, Attitude, Work environment

Abstract

Introduction: One significant factor affecting employee performance is high ambient temperature or heat. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative effects of heat stress in various work environments. Therefore, enhancing workers' knowledge and attitudes toward heat stress can improve their performance.

Materials and Methods: This semi-structured content analysis was conducted among tile industry workers in Yazd city in 2023. Participants engaged in both individual and group interviews. Initially, three unstructured interviews helped identify key points, followed by semi-structured interviews, which served as the primary data collection method. The study's reliability and validity were assessed using Lincoln and Guba. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and the findings were organized into main themes and subcategories.

Results: The workers' perspectives on the issue were explored from various angles, leading to two main themes: knowledge and attitude, each with different subcategories. The knowledge theme includes individual and management factors, while the attitude theme encompasses individual and environmental factors.

Conclusion: The tile industry workers in Yazd City demonstrated varying levels of knowledge about heat stress and held attitudes that reflected the negative impacts of this stressor. Factors such as age and education level influenced their knowledge and attitudes. Workers' understanding and attitudes towards heat stress can be achieved through proper training.