Effects of Heat Stress on Working Populations when Facing Climate Change

Lundgren, Karin; Kuklane, Kalev; Gao, Chuansi; Holmér, Ingvar

doi:10.2486/indhealth.2012-0089

Cited by 234 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 61 publications

(103 reference statements)

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“…Projections of climate change over the coming century suggest increasing incidences of heat-related mortality in both the general public and in occupational settings (Gubernot et al 2014;Jay and Kenny 2010;Kjellstrom et al 2013;Lundgren et al 2013;Xiang et al 2014). Epidemiological studies also suggest that the highest risk of excessive heat exposure is in tropical and lower to middle-income countries, possibly attributable to a large informal work sector, location in a hot environment, and dense populations (Lucas et al 2014).…”

Section: Future Projectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Cheung

Lee

Oksa

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

109

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Many physically demanding occupations in both developed and developing economies involve exposure to extreme thermal environments that can affect work capacity and ultimately health. Thermal extremes may be present in either an outdoor or an indoor work environment, and can be due to a combination of the natural or artificial ambient environment, the rate of metabolic heat generation from physical work, processes specific to the workplace (e.g., steel manufacturing), or through the requirement for protective clothing impairing heat dissipation. Together, thermal exposure can elicit acute impairment of work capacity and also chronic effects on health, greatly contributing to worker health risk and reduced productivity. Surprisingly, in most occupations even in developed economies, there are rarely any standards regarding enforced heat or cold safety for workers. Furthermore, specific physical employment standards or accommodations for thermal stressors are rare, with workers commonly tested under near-perfect conditions. This review surveys the major occupational impact of thermal extremes and existing employment standards, proposing guidelines for improvement and areas for future research.Key words: Heat stress, cold stress, occupational physiology, testing, work.Résumé : Plusieurs emplois physiquement exigeants dans les économies développées et en émergence s'exercent dans des milieux thermiques extrêmes qui peuvent affecter la capacité de travail et, en fin de compte, la santé. Ces milieux de condition thermique extrême se retrouvent dans des environnements de travail intérieur ou extérieur et peuvent découler d'une combinaison d'un milieu ambiant naturel ou artificiel, de la production de chaleur métabolique due au travail physique, des procédés spécifiques au milieu de travail (p. ex. fabrication de l'acier) ou du port obligatoire d'un équipement de protection s'opposant à la dissipation de la chaleur. Globalement, l'exposition à la chaleur peut diminuer ponctuellement la capacité de travail et générer des effets chroniques sur la santé, augmentant ainsi le risque de maladie chez le travailleur et la diminution de la productivité. Étonnamment, dans la plupart des emplois même dans les économies développées, il y a rarement, à propos du froid et de la chaleur, des normes de sécurité ou des règlements en vigueur à l'intention des travailleurs. De plus, rares sont les normes spécifiques aux tâches physiques ou les accommodations aux agents de stress thermique et les travailleurs sont généralement évalués dans des conditions presque parfaites. Cette analyse documentaire sonde les effets principaux des agents thermiques extrêmes sur les tâches physiques, fait le bilan des normes en vigueur en matière d'emploi, suggère des lignes directrices et des pistes pour des études ultérieures. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : stress thermique, stress dû au froid, physiologie du travail, évaluation, travail.

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Section: Future Projectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Cheung

Lee

Oksa

2016

Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab.

109

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“…It has been previously estimated that exposure to wood smoke is associated with a 70% increased risk of having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Sood et al, 2009). It is a well-known physiological fact that human performance is limited by excessive environmental heat exposure and humidity (Parsons, 2003;Bridger, 2003) condensing the world's economic productivity and particularly affecting the developing countries in the tropical climate zone (Kjellstrom, 2009;Kjellstrom et al, 2009;Lundgren et al, 2013). Brick workers are exposed to the sun for long hours as well as high concentration of dust while manual breaking of coal.…”

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confidence: 99%

Socioeconomic conditions and health hazards of brick field workers: A case study of Mymensingh brick industrial area of Bangladesh

Das¹,

Hasan²,

Akhter³

et al. 2017

J. Public Health Epidemiol.

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The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of brick kilns on socioeconomic conditions working environment, hazards and risk associated with each of the tasks as well as the negative effect of hazardous work of brick field workers. A semi-structured survey has been served as the main data collection method from the different 9 brick fields of Gouripur and Ishwargonj sub district under the Mymensingh district (n=402). Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used to summarize the data. The socioeconomic condition of the brick kiln workers indicated that the majority of the workers are male respondents at the brick kiln with low education level, 91.79% of workers receiving monthly income less than 15000 BDT, as well as facing major health and environmental difficulties. 42.29% of the workers are current smokers, the majority of the workers claimed that they didn't get proper sanitation (90.8%) and drinking water (98.01%) and having some locomotion problems. A high frequency of respiratory problem, gastrointestinal illnesses, eye and ear problem as well as having some site injuries during work, more commonly in legs and hands were observed in the brick kiln workers and sometime more than that. A sustainable approach should be taken to minimize environmental and health hazards inherent in brick kilns at the right time.

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“…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) .…”

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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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Effects of Heat Stress on Working Populations when Facing Climate Change

Cited by 234 publications

References 61 publications

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Thermal stress, human performance, and physical employment standards

Socioeconomic conditions and health hazards of brick field workers: A case study of Mymensingh brick industrial area of Bangladesh

Climate Change and Occupational Heat Problems

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