Updated Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health Hazards of Climate Change

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bhattacharya, Amit ; Chun H ; Edwards, Nicole T. ; Elliott KC ; Flynn MA ; Guerin R ; Hodson L ; Jacklitsch, Brenda L. ; Lincoln, Jennifer M. ; MacMahon KL ; Pendergrass S ; Schulte, Paul A. ; Siven J ; Vietas J
• Description:
  Workers, particularly outdoor workers, are among the populations most disproportionately affected by climate-related hazards. However, scientific research and control actions to comprehensively address these hazards are notably absent. To assess this absence, a seven-category framework was developed in 2009 to characterize the scientific literature published from 1988 through 2008. Using this framework, a second assessment examined the literature published through 2014, and the current one examines literature from 2014 through 2021. The objectives were to present literature that updates the framework and related topics and increases awareness of the role of climate change in occupational safety and health. In general, there is substantial literature on worker hazards related to ambient temperatures, biological hazards, and extreme weather but less on air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, industrial transitions, and the built environment. There is growing literature on mental health and health equity issues related to climate change, but much more research is needed. The socioeconomic impacts of climate change also require more research. This study illustrates that workers are experiencing increased morbidity and mortality related to climate change. In all areas of climate-related worker risk, including geoengineering, research is needed on the causality and prevalence of hazards, along with surveillance to identify, and interventions for hazard prevention and control. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Climate Change Hazardous Substances Hot Temperature Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Health Equity Climate Change Hazard Controls Heat Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Outdoor Workers Productivity Systematic Reviews Temperature Effects Work Worker Health

  More +
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Maryland ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSI - Division of Science Integration ; OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  183-206
• Volume:
  20
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067455
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2023 May-Jun; 20(5-6):183-206
• Contact Point Address:
  BL Jacklitsch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 USA
• Email:
  bjacklitsch@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Services ; Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fee2c9d4e8ae48d2f340a9532dec6e9e6423f4a4fb625ef8f5a7f509483c6873d8dbab5b04db2c630adc0c089bf873bf7535bffc15773a07809aa1376fccbcdc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230821/cdc_230821_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.81 MB ]