Assessment of Heat Stress Exposure Among Road Construction Workers in Sokoto State

Heat stress poses a significant occupational health risk for outdoor workers in arid and semi-arid regions of Nigeria, particularly in the North West zone. This study assessed levels of heat stress exposure and associated health effects among road construction workers in Sokoto State. A total of 150 workers from three active road construction sites were recruited through purposive sampling. Environmental heat measurements including wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) readings were collected at multiple time intervals, and health data were gathered using structured interviews and physical assessments. Findings revealed that average WBGT values during peak working hours consistently exceeded the recommended threshold of 28 degrees Celsius for moderate-intensity labor. A substantial proportion (71.3%) of workers reported symptoms consistent with heat strain, including dizziness, muscle cramps, and excessive fatigue. Only 19.3 percent had access to employer-provided hydration stations, and formal heat stress prevention policies were absent on all sampled sites. Sociodemographic analysis indicated that older workers and those performing physically intensive tasks faced the greatest risk of heat-related illness. The study concludes that heat stress management is critically neglected in Nigeria's road construction industry and calls for the implementation of mandatory heat stress prevention programs, hydration protocols, and work-rest cycle schedules at construction sites across hot climate zones. Relevant regulatory bodies including NESREA and state Ministries of Labor are urged to enforce compliance. Keywords: heat stress, road construction, WBGT, outdoor workers, Sokoto State.