Risk Factors for Occupational Heat-Related Illness Among California Workers, 2000–2017

Details

• Personal Author:
  Frederick M ; Harrison, Robert ; Heinzerling A ; Jackson R ; Laws RL ; Materna B ; Windham G
• Description:
  Background: As climate change increases global temperatures, heat-related morbidity and mortality are projected to rise. Outdoor workers and those who perform exertional tasks are particularly susceptible to heat-related illness (HRI). Using workers' compensation data, we aimed to describe rates of occupational HRI in California and identify demographic and occupational risk factors to inform prevention efforts. Methods: We identified HRI cases during 2000-2017 in the California Workers' Compensation Information System (WCIS) using International Classification of Diseases Ninth and Tenth Revision codes, WCIS nature and cause of injury codes, and HRI keywords. We assigned industry and occupation codes using the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS). We calculated HRI rates by sex, age group, year, county, industry, and occupation, and estimated confidence intervals using generalized linear models. Results: We identified 15,996 HRI cases during 2000-2017 (6.0 cases/100,000 workers). Workers aged 16-24 years had the highest HRI rate (7.6) among age groups, and men (8.1) had a higher rate than women (3.5). Industry sectors with the highest HRI rates were Agriculture, Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (38.6), and Public Administration (35.3). Occupational groups with the highest HRI rates were Protective Services (56.6) and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (36.6). Firefighters had the highest HRI rate (389.6) among individual occupations. Conclusions: Workers in certain demographic and occupational groups are particularly susceptible to HRI. Additional prevention efforts, including outreach and enforcement targeting high-risk groups, are needed to reduce occupational HRI. Workers' compensation data can provide timely information about temporal trends and risk factors for HRI. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Climate Change Demography Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Safety Temperature
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Climate Change Climate Change Climatic Factors Demographic Characteristics Heat-related Illness Heat Exposure Heat Stress Occupational Exposures Outdoor Workers Temperature Effects Workers' Compensation

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Georgia ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  63
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066536
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2020 Dec; 63(12):1145-1154
• Contact Point Address:
  Amy Heinzerling, MD, MPH, 850 Marina Bay Pkwy., Bldg P-3, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
• Email:
  amy.heinzerling@cdph.ca.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Public Health Institute
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0c9c80867a33198af5cc413eaaabe4360b07ac40376e279cca51203e41914fea573945238878eb14f8df4b25d98fafe20d6eee2f252425a547f920d5bb90eedf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231112/cdc_231112_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 914.61 KB ]