Occupational Heat Stress: Multi-Country Observations and Interventions

Abstract

Background: Occupational heat exposure can provoke health problems that increase the risk of certain diseases and affect workers’ ability to maintain healthy and productive lives. This study investigates the effects of occupational heat stress on workers’ physiological strain and labor productivity, as well as examining multiple interventions to mitigate the problem. Methods: We monitored 518 full work-shifts obtained from 238 experienced and acclimatized individuals who work in key industrial sectors located in Cyprus, Greece, Qatar, and Spain. Continuous core body temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, and labor productivity were collected from the beginning to the end of all work-shifts. Results: In workplaces where self-pacing is not feasible or very limited, we found that occupational heat stress is associated with the heat strain experienced by workers. Strategies focusing on hydration, work-rest cycles, and ventilated clothing were able to mitigate the physiological heat strain experienced by workers. Increasing mechanization enhanced labor productivity without increasing workers’ physiological strain. Conclusions: Empowering laborers to self-pace is the basis of heat mitigation, while tailored strategies focusing on hydration, work-rest cycles, ventilated garments, and mechanization can further reduce the physiological heat strain experienced by workers under certain conditions.

The Impacts of Sun Exposure on Worker Physiology and Cognition: Multi-Country Evidence and Interventions

“…Overall, the findings from the first study show that working under the sun increases skin temperature and the risk for experiencing clinical symptoms of heat strain, albeit without markedly altering physiological heat strain as defined by changes in core temperature and heart rate, even in cases where the level of environmental heat stress is considered to be the same as working in the shade. This is probably related to the well-described effect of self-pacing that is known to act proactively to avoid an increase in workers’ core body temperature [ 13 , 25 ]. However, self-pacing may not be appropriate when jobs or tasks are time-sensitive, involve productivity incentives, and/or involve workers who are not well trained in their job [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…This is probably related to the well-described effect of self-pacing that is known to act proactively to avoid an increase in workers’ core body temperature [ 13 , 25 ]. However, self-pacing may not be appropriate when jobs or tasks are time-sensitive, involve productivity incentives, and/or involve workers who are not well trained in their job [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Taken together, these results support existing recommendations for wearing light-colored clothes during work or exercise under the sun [ 30 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ] and further demonstrate their practicality and cost-effectiveness in occupational settings. While white work coveralls can be effective in reducing the physiological strain during work under the sun, the adoption of other heat mitigation strategies, such as hydration protocols, work–rest cycles for jobs that do not allow for self-pacing, ventilated garments, and mechanization of heavy work, can further reduce the physiological strain experienced by people working manually outdoors [ 25 ].…”

Health and social needs of migrant construction workers for big sporting events

“…Investing in the health of migrant construction workers can directly benefit their health and productivity, and indirectly the success of countries and industries dependent on this population. Following simple, evidence based guidance at a construction site for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup had substantial benefits for health and productivity 4142. As illustrated by the covid-19 pandemic, the costs of poorly managed outbreaks, lockdowns, and economic stimulus packages go far beyond the costs of effective public health responses 43…”

Improving the evidence on health inequities in migrant construction workers preparing for big sporting events

“…Big sporting events organised in hot regions expose migrant workers at the construction sites to hazards related to heat 42829. Studies on labour migrants at a construction site for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha reported that people working outdoors in the sun spend most of their shift under high or extreme heat stress 430. The same research reported that the health risks of these workers were reduced in workplaces that implemented simple evidence based heat mitigation strategies, including providing shaded areas and requiring workers to carry water bottles throughout their shifts, worker educational programmes, and annual medical checks 430.…”