Designing anti heat stress clothing for construction workers

During summer, the weather in Hong Kong is hot and humid. Construction workers have to undertake physically demanding activities in these conditions, which poses a significant challenge to them, and threatens their health. Safety clothing is worn by construction workers to protect them from many potential hazards inherent in the job, but workers often dislike wearing safety clothing because it can be hot and cumbersome. Moreover, such clothing can slow down the pace at which work is done. Clothing should make workers feel cool, dry and comfortable, and more importantly, it should be able to protect them from the damaging ultra-violet rays from the sun. Clothing for construction workers during summer warrants special attention. The aim of the study is to address this pressing need of the industry by adopting a scientific approach to assess the effects of heat stress on construction workers and to design proper clothing for construction workers accordingly. The paper first reports on the common health risks involved in working in hot and humid conditions. Qualitative and quantitative research methods applied in conducting the research are discussed. Although this study applies specifically to the construction industry of Hong Kong, the same methodology could be applied in other countries.