Heat Waves Occurrence and Outdoor Workers’ Self-assessment of Heat Stress in Slovenia and Greece

Abstract

Changing patterns of heat waves are part of the global warming effect and the importance of changes is reinforced by their negative impact on society. Firstly, heat waves were analyzed in Brnik (Slovenia) and Larisa (Greece) in the period 1981–2017 to reflect the environment which workers are exposed to. Secondly, outdoor workers (70 from Greece, 216 from Slovenia) provided a self-assessment of heat stress. The heat wave timeline is presented as an effective way of illustrating long-term changes in heat waves’ characteristics for various stakeholders. In both countries, workers assessed as significant the heat stress impact on productivity (Greece 69%, Slovenia 71%; p > 0.05), and in Slovenia also on well-being (74%; p < 0.01). The main experienced symptoms and diseases were thirst (Greece 70%, Slovenia 82%; p = 0.03), excessive sweating (67%, 85%; p = 0.01), exhaustion (51%, 62%; p > 0.05) and headache (44%, 53%; p > 0.05). The most common way to reduce heat stress was drinking more water (Greece 64%, Slovenia 82%; p = 0.001). Among the informed workers, the prevalent source of information was discussions. Therefore, educational campaigns are recommended, together with the testing of the efficiency of mitigation measures that will be proposed on the Heat-Shield project portal.

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

“…After gathering basic information about rising summer temperatures and general knowledge about heat stress, and sharing knowledge and ideas, it was important for us to get a more comprehensive picture of the situation of workers in many different companies. This was a supplement to our previous knowledge, which we had gained in 2016 in a production company [ 1 ], among agricultural workers and consultants [ 13 ] and among outdoor workers [ 14 ]. The questionnaire on heat stress among workers was designed by the Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia and distributed to its members by e-mail in June 2019.…”

“…Even though many people are aware of global warming, it is often noticed that they do not relate it to their own situation. That is why we are always looking for a way to show stakeholders how summer temperatures are changing in Slovenia [ 14 ]. This includes our results on changing distributions, especially with calculated percentages of exceedance of the threshold values.…”

“…In addition, there is not enough attention to the heat exposure of those who work outdoors or near hot equipment [ 10 , 11 ]. The frequent occurrence of various, even very serious, heat stress symptoms and diseases, as well as productivity losses, during or after heat waves has been observed in case studies among Slovenian workers in the manufacturing industry [ 1 , 12 ], agriculture [ 13 ] and outdoor work in various sectors [ 14 ]. The number of Slovenian workers in the 55–64 age group rose from 57,000 to 109,000 in the period 2008–2018 [ 15 ].…”

Outdoor thermal comfort research in urban areas of Central and Southeast Europe: A review

“…Novi Sad, Niš, Belgrade, Leskovac -Milicevic et al, 2013;Unkašević & Tošić, 2013, 2015Savić et al, 2014Savić et al, , 2018Stanojević et al, 2014a;2014b;Šećerov et al, 2015;Bajšanski et al, 2015;Milošević et al, 2015aMilošević et al, , 2015bMilošević et al, , 2016Milošević et al, , 2017aMilošević et al, , 2017bDjukic et al, 2016;Anđelković et al, 2016;Basarin et al, 2016Basarin et al, , 2018Bogdanović-Protić et al, 2016;Djekic et al, 2018aDjekic et al, , 2018bVučković et al, 2019, Lukić et al, 2019 Slovenia Ljubljana Vidrih & Medved, 2013;Fikfak et al, 2017;Pogačar et al, 2017Pogačar et al, , 2019aPogačar et al, , 2019bPerčič et al, 2018;Žiberna & Ivajnšič, 2018 Measurements and assessment of thermal comfort and other climatological events responsible for outdoor thermal comfort were also investigated. Kovács & Németh (2012) evaluated the differences and changes of the thermal comfort conditions in the last half century in Budapest based on the measurements of two meteorological stations located in different environments (LCZs).…”

“…However, there are some articles regarding other aspects of bioclimate, where OTC is indirectly assessed. For example, the articles regarding UHI mitigation (Vidrih & Medved, 2013;Fikfak et al, 2017), heat stress and mortality and health issues (Pogačar et al, 2017;2019a;2019b;Perčič et al, 2018;Žiberna & Ivajnšič, 2018). On the other hand, indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency is more com-mon topic of interest among Slovenian researchers in the last decade (Pajek & Košir, 2017;2018;Pajek et al, 2019) There is an obvious lack of systematic approach and consistency when it comes to the OTC research on the country level within the countries with the low OTC research production.…”