Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety in a Temperate Climate: Potential Impacts and Research Priorities in Quebec, Canada

Adam-Poupart, Ariane; Smargiassi, Audrey; Duguay, Patrice; Busque, Marc-Antoine; Gagné, Charles; Rintamäki, Hannu; Kjellström, Tord; Zayed, Joseph

doi:10.2486/indhealth.2012-0100

Cited by 49 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Unlike classical HRI, which occurs more commonly in the elderly, very young, and those with chronic medical conditions, exertional HRI can occur in young, otherwise healthy individuals with high metabolic output rates from increased workloads, particularly when working in hot and humid environmental conditions. The physiological response to dissipate heat and maintain a normal core body temperature (heat strain), which is overwhelmed in exertional HRI, can also occur in relatively cool environments, depending on the amount of metabolic heat produced and the degree of acclimatization of the worker [3,4]. Although classical HRI and exertional HRI in athletes and military personnel and have been studied extensively, less is known about exertional HRI in certain vulnerable working populations, including agricultural workers [5-9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods

et al. 2013

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BackgroundHeat-related illness (HRI) is an important cause of non-fatal illness and death in farmworkers. We sought to identify potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment in Latino farmworkers.MethodsWe conducted three semi-structured focus group discussions with 35 Latino farmworkers in the Central Washington, USA area using participatory rural appraisal techniques. Interviews were audio taped and transcribed in Spanish. Three researchers reviewed and coded transcripts and field notes, and investigator triangulation was used to identify relevant themes and quotes.ResultsAlthough the majority of participants in our study reported never receiving formal HRI training, most participants were aware that extreme heat can cause illness and were able to accurately describe HRI symptoms, risk factors, and certain prevention strategies. Four main observations regarding farmworkers’ HRI-relevant beliefs and attitudes were identified: 1) farmworkers subscribe to varying degrees to the belief that cooling treatments should be avoided after heat exposure, with some believing that such treatments should be avoided after heat exposure, and others encouraging the use of such treatments; 2) the desire to lose weight may be reflected in behaviors that promote increased sweating; 3) highly caffeinated energy drinks are preferred to increase work efficiency and maintain alertness; and 4) the location of drinking water at work (e.g. next to restrooms) and whether water is clean, but not necessarily chemically-treated, are important considerations in deciding whether to drink the water provided at worksites.ConclusionsWe identified potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment related to hydration, certain HRI treatments, clothing use, and the desire to lose weight among Latino farmworkers. Strategies to address potential barriers to HRI prevention and treatment in this population may include engineering, administrative, and health education and health promotion strategies at individual, workplace, community, and societal levels. Although farmworkers in our study were able to describe HRI risk factors, reported practices were not necessarily consistent with reported knowledge. Further study of potential knowledge-behavior gaps may uncover opportunities for additional HRI prevention strategies. Farmworkers and employers should be included in the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent HRI.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods

et al. 2013

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“…Working people are particularly exposed to these heating trends in tropical and sub-tropical countries, where excessive workplace heat exposures linked to the outdoor ambient thermal environment are a traditional part of local life, but heat waves in cooler countries are also affecting workers health and productivity 3) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Climate Change and Occupational Heat Problems

Kjellström

Sawada

Bernard³

et al. 2013

Ind Health

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In many parts of the world ongoing climate change during the last three decades has produced higher temperatures and occupational heat stress levels in both outdoor and indoor workplaces 1,2) . Working people are particularly exposed to these heating trends in tropical and sub-tropical countries, where excessive workplace heat exposures linked to the outdoor ambient thermal environment are a traditional part of local life, but heat waves in cooler countries are also affecting workers health and productivity 3) .Outdoor work is avoided by local people during the hottest part of the days in the hot season, as the heat stress from air temperature, humidity and wind, and the additional heat load from solar heat radiation, overwhelms the human physiological capacity to maintain thermal balance 4) . High workplace heat exposure is connected to various clinical effects and also to increased incidence of occupational injuries 5) .The notion that indoor workers are generally sufficiently protected via air conditioning, fans or other cooling systems does not apply to most industrial workplaces in low and middle income countries in hot parts of the world 6,7) . These are the countries where most of the global population lives. Rapid urbanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America adds to the local heat exposures via great amounts of construction work 8) and the Urban Heat Island effect 9) .The lack of technical protection against heat is an important threat to the health and productivity in workplaces. Future climate change will make this situation worse for millions, and maybe even billions, of working people 10) .Daily life non-work activities are also affected by high heat exposures, and for most poor people there is no distinction between work and daily chores. This special issue of Industrial Health presents papers on different aspects of occupational heat problems in relation to climate change. The papers present examples from different parts of the world, and highlight methods for heat exposure assessment 11) , standards for occupational heat exposures 12,13) , and the health and productivity risks of workplace heat in relation to climate conditions and climate change 14) . A small scientific conference on "Occu- Tord KJELLSTROM

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“…Particularly for evaluative and explanatory systematic reviews, consideration of the quality and relevance of different document, research, and data sources should be mainstreamed into the review process Systematic review 763 depth of analysis. Though not always meeting our criteria for inclusion, integration of participatory approaches was not uncommon in adaptation reviews, including solicitation of feedback on early literature review results from policy makers (Adam-Poupart et al 2013), engagement of community stakeholders in the adaptation planning (Pearce et al 2012), and key informant interviews to assess adaptation mainstreaming in public health (Clarke and Berry 2012). We argue here that in the case of policy and practice, consideration of systematic approaches to synthesizing knowledge should not be restricted to reviews of existing literature only.…”

Section: Analysis and Presentation Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

2015

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Recent controversy has led to calls for increased standardization and transparency in the methods used to synthesize climate change research. Though these debates have focused largely on the biophysical dimensions of climate change, human dimensions research is equally in need of improved methodological approaches for research synthesis. Systematic review approaches, and more recently realist review methods, have been used within the health sciences for decades to guide research synthesis. Despite this, penetration of these approaches into the social and environmental sciences has been limited. Here, we present an analysis of approaches for systematic review and research synthesis and examine their applicability in an adaptation context. Customized review frameworks informed by systematic approaches to research synthesis provide a conceptually appropriate and practical opportunity for increasing methodological transparency and rigor in synthesizing and tracking adaptation research. This review highlights innovative applications of systematic approaches, with a focus on the unique challenges of integrating multiple data sources and formats in reviewing climate change adaptation policy and practice. We present guidelines, key considerations, and recommendations for systematic review in the social sciences in general and adaptation research in particular. We conclude by calling for increased conceptual and methodological development of systematic review approaches to address the methodological challenges of synthesizing and tracking adaptation to climate change.

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Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety in a Temperate Climate: Potential Impacts and Research Priorities in Quebec, Canada

Cited by 49 publications

References 45 publications

Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods

Identification of barriers to the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness in Latino farmworkers using activity-oriented, participatory rural appraisal focus group methods

Climate Change and Occupational Heat Problems

Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research

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