An Occupational Heat–Health Warning System for Europe: The HEAT-SHIELD Platform

Self Cite

The need for healthcare workers (HCWs) to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heightens their risk of thermal stress. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of HCWs from India and Singapore regarding PPE usage and heat stress when performing treatment and care activities. One hundred sixty-five HCWs from India (n = 110) and Singapore (n = 55) participated in a survey. Thirty-seven HCWs from Singapore provided thermal comfort ratings before and after ice slurry ingestion. Differences in responses between India and Singapore HCWs were compared. A p-value cut-off of 0.05 depicted statistical significance. Median wet-bulb globe temperature was higher in India (30.2 °C (interquartile range [IQR] 29.1–31.8 °C)) than in Singapore (22.0 °C (IQR 18.8–24.8 °C)) (p < 0.001). Respondents from both countries reported thirst (n = 144, 87%), excessive sweating (n = 145, 88%), exhaustion (n = 128, 78%), and desire to go to comfort zones (n = 136, 84%). In Singapore, reports of air-conditioning at worksites (n = 34, 62%), dedicated rest area availability (n = 55, 100%), and PPE removal during breaks (n = 54, 98.2%) were higher than in India (n = 27, 25%; n = 46, 42%; and n = 66, 60%, respectively) (p < 0.001). Median thermal comfort rating improved from 2 (IQR 1–2) to 0 (IQR 0–1) after ice slurry ingestion in Singapore (p < 0.001). HCWs are cognizant of the effects of heat stress but might not adopt best practices due to various constraints. Thermal stress management is better in Singapore than in India. Ice slurry ingestion is shown to be practical and effective in promoting thermal comfort. Adverse effects of heat stress on productivity and judgment of HCWs warrant further investigation.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat Stress and Thermal Perception amongst Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in India and Singapore

Lee

Venugopal

Latha

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…Warnings are issued based on user-tailored thresholds and some recommendations regarding amount of the drinking water and duration of work-rest cycles are provided along with the warning (see Ref. [29] in the present Special Issue for details).…”

Section: Existing Warning Systems and Action Plansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This work paves the way for future HHWSs, such as the one currently under development in the framework of the Horizon 2020 HEAT-SHIELD project, specifically addressed to occupational sectors (, Refs. [28,29]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Existing Heat-Health Warning Systems in Europe

Casanueva

Burgstall

Kotlarski

et al. 2019

Self Cite

150

126

The frequency of extreme heat events, such as the summer of 2003 in Europe, and their corresponding consequences for human beings are expected to increase under a warmer climate. The joint collaboration of institutional agencies and multidisciplinary approaches is essential for a successful development of heat-health warning systems and action plans which can reduce the impacts of extreme heat on the population. The present work constitutes a state-of-the-art review of 16 European heat-health warning systems and heat-health action plans, based on the existing literature, web search (over the National Meteorological Services websites) and questionnaires. The aim of this study is to pave the way for future heat-health warning systems, such as the one currently under development in the framework of the Horizon 2020 HEAT-SHIELD project. Some aspects are highlighted among the variety of examined European warning systems. The meteorological variables that trigger the warnings should present a clear link with the impact under consideration and should be chosen depending on the purpose and target of the warnings. Setting long-term planning actions as well as pre-alert levels might prevent and reduce damages due to heat. Finally, education and communication are key elements of the success of a warning system.

“…The symposia were organized within the Heat-Shield project [ 27 ], with the aim of raising awareness, developing plans to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress and taking a first step towards the broad use of the Heat-Shield platform, which was developed within the project as an early warning system for occupational heat stress [ 28 ]. The main outcomes of the first symposium’s roundtable discussions were: Employers: Motivation to work together is necessary, awareness is low, management teams do not realize that they are losing money due to poor working conditions; employers need to know that remedial action is not an extra cost but the only way to maintain productivity in the heat.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Heat-Shield platform feels useful, transparent and helpful for the participants of both symposia. A strength of the developed website platform lies in its ability to make short-term recommendations on hydration and work and break schedules [ 28 ]. Most stakeholders agree that it is easiest and most efficient to introduce preplanned breaks during working time, but it must be clearly stated that this measure does not reduce workers’ productivity [ 38 ], which is a major concern of employers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steps Towards Comprehensive Heat Communication in the Frame of a Heat Health Warning System in Slovenia

Pogačar

Žnidaršič

Bogataj

et al. 2020

Occupational heat stress has an important negative impact on the well-being, health and productivity of workers and should; therefore, be recognized as a public health issue in Europe. There is no comprehensive heat health warning system in Slovenia combining public health measures with meteorological forecasts. The aim of this research was to provide insight into the development of such a system in Slovenia, turning the communication from the current meteoalarm into a broader system that has more information for different social groups. To achieve this goal, the following steps were used: Analysis of summer temperatures and issued meteoalarms, a survey of the general knowledge about heat among the public, organization and management of two stakeholder symposia, and a final survey on workers’ opinions on heat stress and measures, supplemented by interviews with employers. Summer average daily temperature distributions in Slovenia changed during the investigated period (1961–2019) and the mean values increased over time by 2–3 °C. Additionally, the number of days with fulfilled yellow (potentially dangerous) and especially orange (dangerous) meteoalarm conditions increased significantly after 1990. The survey of the general public about heat stress and warnings showed that efforts to raise awareness of heat issues need to be intensified and that public health measures should effectively target vulnerable groups. Stakeholder symposia and further surveys have shown that awareness and understanding of the negative effects of heat stress on health and productivity are still quite low, so effective ways of disseminating information to different sectors while striking the best balance between efficiency, feasibility and economic cost have to be found.