The epidemiology of occupational heat exposure in the United States: a review of the literature and assessment of research needs in a changing climate
- Abstract
In recent years, the United States has experienced record-breaking summer heat. Climate change models forecast increasing US temperatures and more frequent heat wave events in the coming years. Exposure to environmental heat is a significant, but overlooked, workplace hazard that has not been well-characterized or studied. The working population is diverse; job function, age, fitness level, and risk factors to heat-related illnesses vary. Yet few studies have examined or characterized the incidence of occupational heat-related morbidity and mortality. There are no federal regulatory standards to protect workers from environmental heat exposure. With climate change as a driver for adaptation and prevention of heat disorders, crafting policy to characterize and prevent occupational heat stress for both indoor and outdoor workers is increasingly sensible, practical, and imperative.
- Resource Type
- Peer-reviewed article
- Authors
- Diane M. Gubernot G. Brooke Anderson Katherine L. Hunting
- Resource URL
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24326903
- Publication
- International Journal of Biometeorology
- Journal Abbr.
- Int J Biometeorol
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1779-1788
- Date
- Oct 2014
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00484-013-0752-x
- ISSN
- 1432-1254
- Short Title
- The epidemiology of occupational heat exposure in the United States
- Organization Type
- Academic
- Health and Human Impacts
- Heat illness/extreme temperature Occupational health
- Climate and Environmental Impacts
- Extreme weather events Heat
- Other
- Health surveillance