Advancing the framework for considering the effects of climate change on worker safety and health

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bhattacharya, Amit ; Butler, Corey R. ; Chun HK ; Jacklitsch, Brenda L. ; Jacobs T ; Kiefer, Max ; Lincoln, Jennifer E. ; Pendergrass S ; Schulte, Paul A. ; Shire J ; Wagner, Gregory R. ; Watson J
  More +
• Description:
  In 2009, a preliminary framework for how climate change could affect worker safety and health was described. That framework was based on a literature search from 1988-2008 that supported seven categories of climate-related occupational hazards: (1) increased ambient temperature; (2) air pollution; (3) ultraviolet exposure; (4) extreme weather; (5) vector-borne diseases and expanded habitats; (6) industrial transitions and emerging industries; and (7) changes in the built environment. This paper reviews the published literature from 2008-2014 in each of the seven categories. Additionally, three new topics related to occupational safety and health are considered: mental health effects, economic burden, and potential work safety and health impacts associated with the nascent field of climate intervention (geoengineering). Beyond updating the literature, the paper also identifies key priorities for action to better characterize and understand how occupational safety and health may be associated with climate change events and ensure that worker health and safety issues are anticipated, recognized, evaluated, and mitigated. These key priorities include research, surveillance, risk assessment, risk management, and policy development. Strong evidence indicates that climate change will continue to present occupational safety and health hazards, and this framework may be a useful tool for preventing adverse effects to workers. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Air Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Economics
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Health Promotion
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Occupational Health
  • Risk Assessment
  More +
• Keywords:
  • Climate change
  • Safety measures
  • Safety practices
  • Health protection
  • Health programs
  • Exposure levels
  • Risk factors
  • Hazards
  • Temperature effects
  • Air pollution
  More +
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; Colorado ; District of Columbia ; Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Washington
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• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  EID - Education and Information Division ; OD - Office of the Director ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  13
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047914
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2016 Nov; 13(11):847-865
• Contact Point Address:
  Paul A. Schulte, Ph.D., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, MS C-14, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
• Email:
  PSchulte@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing ; Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202853/cdc_202853_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.11 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b2748470277a986ff8c7648269346e0d83b887b8e7659bdd1aaa13f8c0fe679b4c92cc344d844353f88ffc351b0974651beeafb59a64a92f2842254de30bcf8b