The impacts of climate change on occupational heat strain in outdoor workers: A systematic review

Habibi, Peymaneh; Moradi, Gholamreza; Dehghan, Habibollah; Moradi, Amirhossein; Heydari, Ahad

doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2021.100770

Cited by 48 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Shade.” guidelines to reduce heat stress in hot working environments ( 148 ). Furthermore, a systematic review has also identified similar preventative measures practiced by outdoor workers ( 149 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of the existential and global threat of climate change, outdoor workers including agricultural workers are at the forefront of exposure to occupational heat stress ( 149 , 158 ). It is critical that policymakers design labor protection and occupational health and safety policies to protect vulnerable agricultural communities from the effects of climate change, including heat stress ( 159 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of Climate Change and Heat Stress on Farmworkers' Health: A Scoping Review

Khayat

Halwani

Hneiny

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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Due to the continuous rise of global temperatures and heatwaves worldwide as a result of climate change, concerns for the health and safety of working populations have increased. Workers in the food production chain, particularly farmworkers, are especially vulnerable to heat stress due to the strenuous nature of their work, which is performed primarily outdoors under poor working conditions. At the cross-section of climate change and farmworkers' health, a scoping review was undertaken to summarize the existing knowledge regarding the health impacts associated with climate change and heat stress, guide future research toward better understanding current and future climate change risks, and inform policies to protect the health and safety of agricultural workers. A systematic search of 5 electronic databases and gray literature websites was conducted to identify relevant literature published up until December 2021. A total of 9045 records were retrieved from the searches, of which 92 articles were included in the final review. The majority of the reviewed articles focused on heat-related illnesses (n = 57) and kidney diseases (n = 28). The risk factors identified in the reviewed studies included gender, dehydration, heat strain, wearing inappropriate clothing, workload, piece-rate payment, job decision latitude, and hot environmental conditions. On the other hand, various protective and preventive factors were identified including drinking water, changing work hours and schedule of activities, wearing appropriate clothing, reducing soda consumption, taking breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas, and increasing electrolyte consumption in addition to improving access to medical care. This review also identified various factors that are unique to vulnerable agricultural populations, including migrant and child farmworkers. Our findings call for an urgent need to expand future research on vulnerable agricultural communities including migrant workers so as to develop effective policies and interventions that can protect these communities from the effects of heat stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Climate Change and Heat Stress on Farmworkers' Health: A Scoping Review

Khayat

Halwani

Hneiny

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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“…In high-temperature conditions (45 °C), the subject experienced increased thermal stress and exertion, even though he decreased his work output and employed aggressive fluid replacement [ 32 ]. An imprecise but positive relationship exists between climate change and occupational heat strain in outdoor workers, and the most likely mechanism involves dehydration, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, reduced brain function, loss of concentration, and discomfort [ 33 , 34 ]. Some studies have concluded that rain and high temperatures do not increase the risk of bus accidents, which is inconsistent with the conclusions of this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress Response and Safe Driving Time of Bus Drivers in Hot Weather

Sun

Dong

2022

IJERPH

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Purpose: To evaluate the impact of high-temperature environments on bus drivers’ physiology and reaction times, and to provide a basis for driver occupational health management. Methods: The physiological and reaction indexes of 24 bus drivers under different temperatures were investigated. The statistical analysis method was used to analyze the changes in drivers’ physiological stress, the relationship between stress and response ability, and a safe driving time. The Kaplan–Meier survival function was used to analyze the survival rate of bus drivers under different temperatures and driving times. Results: The results showed that body temperature, heart rate, physiological strain index (PSI), and reaction ability were significantly different among different compartment temperatures. PSI was positively correlated with reaction ability. The safe driving time was 80 min, 73 min, and 53 min, respectively, at 32 °C, 36 °C, and 40 °C. The survival rate decreased to less than 60% at 36 °C when driving continuously for 73 min; it decreased to 20% at 40 °C when driving for 53 min, and it was 0 for 75 min. Conclusions: High-temperature environments lead to heat stress of bus drivers, physiological indexes have changed significantly, and behavioral ability is also decreased. The higher the temperature, the lower the survival rate. Improvement measures can be taken from the aspects of convection, conduction, and behavior to ensure the bus driver’s physiological health and driving safety under high temperatures and to improve the survival rate.

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“…Individuals who work in hot indoor work places (such as steel mills, dry cleaners, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and other spaces without air conditioning) are also vulnerable to climate change consequences such as excessive heat exposure or indoor air pollution. Aside from these, there are various more variables that form risk factors (individual, institutional, and environmental factors) that enhance employees' vulnerability to climate-related occupational risks (Habibi et al, 2021).…”

Section: The Health Impacts Of Climate Change On Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Health and Its Possible Preventive Strategies (Review Article)

Ramadan

Mourad²

2022

Egypt. J. Occup. Med.

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Introduction: Climate change and other types of environmental alteration are of our generation's most pressing issues. Due to its geographical location and reliance on climate-sensitive economic sectors, Egypt is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Occupational exposure as a result of rising temperatures and climate change has become a threat to the health and safety, productivity, and social well-being of the world's diverse workforce. Both outdoor and indoor employees are expected to be affected by climate change. Heatstroke, headache, exhaustion, insomnia, heart, kidney, respiratory, and skin disorders, immunological dysfunction, infections, injuries, cancer, and (in severe situations) mortality are among the most common occupational health concerns. High temperature, ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other chemicals are among the occupational exposures that are predicted to rise due to climate change. Climate change has also been linked to an increase in the spread of pathogenic microbes, vector-borne infectious agents, and wildfires, as well as increased workplace violence. Aim of Work: To discuss the different types of occupational exposure that are anticipated to cause climate change, to highlight the regions that would be the most vulnerable to their consequences, and to draw attention to the different preventive measures which are needed to safeguard employees from the health risks of climate change. Conclusion: Climate change could raise the risk of work-related diseases and injuries, necessitating steps to enhance the detection and prevention of its impact on occupational health. Employers, governments, and politicians must implement a variety of methods to safeguard employees against the long-term health effects of climate change. Workers should also be informed of any actions that may be taken to mitigate the health effects of climate change.

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The impacts of climate change on occupational heat strain in outdoor workers: A systematic review

Cited by 48 publications

References 44 publications

Impacts of Climate Change and Heat Stress on Farmworkers' Health: A Scoping Review

Impacts of Climate Change and Heat Stress on Farmworkers' Health: A Scoping Review

Stress Response and Safe Driving Time of Bus Drivers in Hot Weather

Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Health and Its Possible Preventive Strategies (Review Article)

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