The Case for Heat Acclimatization of Disaster Responders—An Australian Perspective

Brearley, Matt; Norton, Ian; Trewin, Abigail

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00098

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Implementing heat safety mitigation strategies such as body cooling, heat acclimatization, and hydration has been shown to significantly reduce the physiological, cognitive, psychological, and physical strain induced by heat stress and therefore, can disrupt the positive feedback loop that produces increased productivity losses from poor safety and health outcomes. [52][53][54][55][56] Limiting losses of productivity through heat safety initiatives also supports the organization's financial wellbeing.…”

Section: Heat Safety Plans Maintain Productivity Safety and Health Of Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of occupational heat stress on worker productivity and economic cost

Morrissey

Brewer

Williams

et al. 2021

American J Industrial Med

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Heat stress is a growing concern in the occupational setting as it endangers worker health, safety, and productivity. Heat-related reductions in physical work capacity and missed workdays directly and indirectly cause productivity losses and may substantially affect the economic wellbeing of the organization. This review highlights the physiological, physical, psychological, and financial harms of heat stress on worker productivity and proposes strategies to quantify heat-related productivity losses. Heat stress produces a vicious-cycle feedback loop that result in adverse outcomes on worker health, safety, and productivity. We propose a theoretical model for implementing an occupational heat safety plan that disrupts this loop, preventing heat-related productivity losses while improving worker health and safety.

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Section: Heat Safety Plans Maintain Productivity Safety and Health Of Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of occupational heat stress on worker productivity and economic cost

Morrissey

Brewer

Williams

et al. 2021

American J Industrial Med

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“…Indeed, cognitive impairment is implied, reported by workers via their inability to focus on tasks, decreased attention to small details, and decreased ability to understand tasks. Physical fatigue is inferred by inferior quality of work and speed of task completion, however, slower speed of task completion could also be evidence of self-pacing to minimise elevations in body temperature (Brearley et al, 2017;Hunt, 2011). Irrespective of origin, an implication of heat exposure, fatigue and self-pacing within the workplace is a reduced work capacity and performance (Snook and Ciriello, 1974).…”

Section: Negative Impacts Within Workplace Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of perceived heat stress symptoms on work-related tasks and social factors: A cross-sectional survey of Australia's Monsoonal North

2020

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Therefore, this study measured the prevalence of heat-stress symptoms and impact of heat exposure on labourintensive industries within the Monsoonal North region of Australia. A cohort of 179 workers completed a questionnaire evaluating environmental exposure, chronic (recurring) and/or severe (synonymous with heat stroke) symptoms of heat stress, and impact within work and home settings. Workers reported both chronic (79%) and severe (47%) heat stress symptoms, with increased likelihood of chronic symptoms when exposed to heat sources (OR 1.5-1.8, p = 0.002-0.023) and decreased likelihood of both chronic and severe symptoms when exposed to airconditioning (Chronic: OR 0.5, p = < 0.001, Severe: OR 0.7, p = 0.019). Negative impacts of heat exposure were reported for both work and home environments (30-60% respectively), highlighting the need for mitigation strategies to reduce occupational heat stress in the Monsoonal North.

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“…This is supported by some of the respondents highlighting that certain tasks such as cannulation being made more difficult rather than not being able to complete the task. The increase in time taken to complete a task generally occurs as individuals regulate their pace of work to a lower intensity to reduce heat production and/or due to cognition being impaired by heat stress 36 . Regardless, if tasks take longer to complete, the productivity of HCWs will be compromised.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat Stress and PPE during COVID-19: Impact on health care workers’ performance, safety and well-being in NHS settings

Davey

Lee

Robbins

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The impermeable nature of PPE worn by health care workers (HCWs) during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic can potentiate heat stress which may negatively impact the performance, safety and well-being of HCWs. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived levels of heat stress and its consequences in HCWs required to wear PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Method: An anonymous online survey was distributed to HCWs required to wear Type 1 or 2 PPE in NHS settings to evaluate the perceived impact of PPE on: (1) physical and cognitive performance; (2) heat stress and heat-related symptoms; (3) frequency of removing PPE due to discomfort caused by heat stress; and (4) general working-life and well-being. Results: The survey received 224 responses from 192 (85.7%) women and 32 (14.3%) men. Even though 71.9% of respondents wore the less thermally challenging PPE (i.e. Type 2), a median of 3 (IQR: 2,5) heat-related symptoms were reported including syncope (7.7%). A median of 1 (IQR: 0-3) cognitive task was adversely affected with attentional focus being the most affected. To relieve discomfort, 32.6% reported removing PPE on five or more occasions in a shift. Ninety two percent reported PPE made their job more difficult and 76.2% advised that physical performance was impaired. Respondents also highlighted concerns of dermatitis and pressure sores in the facial region (22.3%) amongst other factors. Conclusion: Heat stress experienced when PPE is worn negatively impacts the performance, safety and well-being of HCWs and patients. Therefore, modification to current working practices and current design of PPE is urgently required to improve HCWs resilience to pandemics of infectious diseases. Results suggest modifications to the design of the protective face mask and strict enforcement of specific work/rest ratios to limit the duration of PPE use would be immediate impactful interventions.

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The Case for Heat Acclimatization of Disaster Responders—An Australian Perspective

Cited by 5 publications

References 11 publications

Impact of occupational heat stress on worker productivity and economic cost

Impact of occupational heat stress on worker productivity and economic cost

The impact of perceived heat stress symptoms on work-related tasks and social factors: A cross-sectional survey of Australia's Monsoonal North

Heat Stress and PPE during COVID-19: Impact on health care workers’ performance, safety and well-being in NHS settings

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