Occupational Heat Exposure Among Municipal Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chalmers J ; Holmes T ; Jagger M ; Jung J ; Kintziger K ; Morano LH ; Uejio CK
• Description:
  PURPOSE: Outdoor workers face elevated and prolonged heat exposures and have limited access to air-conditioned spaces. This study's overarching research aim is to increase knowledge of municipal worker heat exposure and adaptation practices. The study's sub-objectives are: (1) quantifying exposure misclassification from estimating personal heat exposure from the official weather station; (2) surveying worker's knowledge and practices to adapt to extreme heat; and (3) relating heat exposure and adaptation practices to self-reported thermal comfort. METHODS: Participants wore a personal heat exposure sensor over 7 days from June 1st to July 3rd, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida US. Next, participants confirmed the days that they wore the sensor and reported their daily thermal comfort and heat adaptations. Finally, participants completed an extreme heat knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey. RESULTS: Some participants (37%) experienced hotter and more humid conditions (heat index > 2) than the weather station. The most common heat adaptations were staying hydrated (85%), wearing a hat (46%), and seeking shade (40%). During work hours, higher temperatures increased the odds (odds ratio: 1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.41, p = 0.016) of a participant feeling too hot. Shifting work duty indoors made workers to feel more comfortable (odds ratio: 0.28, 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.70, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: In hot and humid climates, everyday, heat exposures continuously challenge the health of outdoor workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hot Temperature Humidity Men Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety Temperature Women Workplace
• Keywords:
  Adaptation Author Keywords: Adaptation Extreme Heat Health Effects Heat Heat Exposure Humans Outdoors Outdoor Workers Personal Protection Temperature Effects Thermal Comfort Thermal Effects Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  0340-0131
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Tennessee ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  91
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051689
• Citation:
  Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018 Aug; 91(6):705-715
• Contact Point Address:
  Christopher K. Uejio, Department of Geography, Florida State University, Bellamy Building Room 323, 113 Collegiate Loop, PO Box 3062190, Tallahassee, FL 32306
• Email:
  cuejio@fsu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  Florida State Department of Health, Tallahassee
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150701
• Source Full Name:
  International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
• End Date:
  20210630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d7c8a1b59aa618c19d38ef58961e9340199597413a33e58fc0a70aac84ca64984df514aa349325e73367260f2d4dda0d05e7dad22441d9594d268b27074c8d25
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211508/cdc_211508_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 735.52 KB ]