The nexus between social impacts and adaptation strategies of workers to occupational heat stress: a conceptual framework

Abstract

Adverse effects of occupational heat stress in the context of changing climate on working populations are subtle but considerably harmful. However, social dimensions and impacts of climate change-related occupational heat concerns on workers' safety and health, productivity, and well-being are often overlooked or relegated as minor issues in social impact analyses of occupational heat exposure due to climate change. This paper offers a conceptual framework based on an appraisal and synthesis of the literature on social impacts of climate change-related occupational heat exposure on workers' safety and health, productivity, and social welfare and the quest to localise and achieve sustainable development goals. A sustained global, national, institutional, and individual collaborative involvement and financial support for research, improved adaptation and social protection strategies, predominantly in the developing world, where a large number of the people work outdoors, can reduce heat exposure and boost the resilience and adaptive capacity of workers to facilitate efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.

Mixed methods study into social impacts of work-related heat stress on Ghanaian mining workers: A pragmatic research approach

“…The corroborated and complementary findings on mining workers' psychological and behavioral concerns of heat stress on account of merging the quantitative and qualitative results re-echo findings of similar studies (Lundgren et al, 2013;Nunfam et al, 2019a;Singh et al, 2015;Xiang et al, 2014b). For instance, as shown by the workers' lived experiences in the FGDs and majority of workers' views in the survey, it was found that occupational heat stress has serious implications for workers' actions, mindset and emotional conditions when working in hot and humid workplaces.…”

“…For example, although the majority of workers as substantiated by the participants' lived experiences (e.g., heat-related disease and injuries) were worried about heat stress-induced health and safety consequences, statistically significant variation was found across the type of mining activity. Based on the conceptual association between occupational heat stress and well-being (Kjellstrom et al, 2016a(Kjellstrom et al, , 2016bNunfam et al, 2019a;Parsons, 2014), the findings resonates with several empirical studies which underscores the physiological well-being repercussion of heat stress on workers exposed to hot and humid workplace settings (Acharya et al, 2018;Arbury et al, 2014;Flocks et al, 2013;Nunfam et al, 2018;Tawatsupa et al, 2012;Venugopal et al, 2016a, b;Xiang et al, 2014a;Xiang et al, 2014b). Thus, workers exposed to severe environmental conditions coupled with increased metabolic rate tend to experience physiological response to heat stress exemplified in health and safety concerns (heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, heat syncope and heat stroke) (Crimmins et al, 2017;Parsons, 2014).…”

Climate change and heat stress resilient outdoor workers: findings from systematic literature review

“… 32 16 Nunfam et al, 2019 [ 39 ] Ghana Cross-sectional 15 M and 1 W; Mining workers N Questionnaires An effective workplace thermal management policy requires an adequate understanding of occupational heat strain and stress risks, continued training, adaptation strategies, and education among mining workers. 28 17 Nunfam et al, 2019 [ 40 ] Ghana Review Different jobs N N Outdoor workers can reduce thermal stress, boost resilience, and efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. 29 18 Nunfam et al, 2019 [ 16 ] Ghana Cross-sectional Different jobs N Questionnaires Occupational heat stress prevention strategies should focus on promoting workers’ adaptation strategies and inform policy decisions.…”

“… Awareness of climate change; Access to cooling systems (e.g., air conditions & fans); Duration of break/rest hours; Access to drinking water; Access to shade; Wearing loose and light-coloured clothing. Nunfam et al, 2019 [ 40 ] Pregnancy; Lack training; Older workers; Low education; Gender; Temperature; Air movement; Humidity; Solar radiation; Physical workload; Clothing; Type of work; Age; Body size; Medical condition; Medication; Use of drugs and alcohol; Physical Fitness; Metabolism rate, Choice of clothing; Prior heat injury. Heat risk awareness; Heat education and training; Self-pace; Work-break regimes; Shade; Cooling systems; Acclimatization; Rehydration.…”

“…Furthermore, several studies underscore the need for sentinel effects and leading indicators to facilitate surveillance of climate-related occupational heat stress effects, as well as strategies and interventions for preventing the impact of climate change on outdoor workers. Finally, the review identifies interventions and adaptation strategies for outdoor workers, including the provision of accessible cool drinking water [ 13 , 26 , 41 , 44 , 47 ], optimized work-rest schedules [ 12 , 13 , 16 , 26 , 36 , 43 , 44 , 47 ], the availability of proper resting shade [ 16 , 47 , 49 ], training and awareness programs [ 20 , 38 , 40 ], self-paced work [ 13 , 38 , 40 , 44 , 47 ], and the use of supportive protective equipment [ 41 ].…”