Blesson M Varghese1, Adrian G Barnett2, Alana L Hansen1, Peng Bi1, Scott Hanson-Easey1, Jane S Heyworth3, Malcolm R Sim4, Dino L Pisaniello5. 1. School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. 2. School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. 3. School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, The Alfred Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 5. School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: dino.pisaniello@adelaide.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The thermal environment can directly affect workers' occupational health and safety, and act as a contributing factor to injury or illness. However, the literature addressing risks posed by varying temperatures on work-related injuries and illnesses is limited. OBJECTIVES: To examine the occupational injury and illness risk profiles for hot and cold conditions. METHODS: Daily numbers of workers' compensation claims in Adelaide, South Australia from 2003 to 2013 (n = 224,631) were sourced together with daily weather data. The impacts of maximum daily temperature on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses was assessed using a time-stratified case-crossover study design combined with a distributed lag non-linear model. RESULTS: The minimum number of workers' compensation claims occurred when the maximum daily temperature was 25 °C. Compared with this optimal temperature, extremely hot temperatures (99th percentile) were associated with an increase in overall claims (RR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.18-1.44) whereas a non-significant increase was observed with extremely cold temperatures (1st percentile, RR: 1.10 (95%CI: 0.99-1.21). Heat exposure had an acute effect on workers' injuries whereas cold conditions resulted in delayed effects. Moderate temperatures were associated with a greater injury burden than extreme temperatures. CONCLUSION: Days of very high temperatures were associated with the greatest risks of occupational injuries; whereas moderate temperatures, which occur more commonly, have the greatest burden. These findings suggest that the broader range of thermal conditions should be considered in workplace injury and illness prevention strategies.
BACKGROUND: The thermal environment can directly affect workers' occupational health and safety, and act as a contributing factor to injury or illness. However, the literature addressing risks posed by varying temperatures on work-related injuries and illnesses is limited. OBJECTIVES: To examine the occupational injury and illness risk profiles for hot and cold conditions. METHODS: Daily numbers of workers' compensation claims in Adelaide, South Australia from 2003 to 2013 (n = 224,631) were sourced together with daily weather data. The impacts of maximum daily temperature on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses was assessed using a time-stratified case-crossover study design combined with a distributed lag non-linear model. RESULTS: The minimum number of workers' compensation claims occurred when the maximum daily temperature was 25 °C. Compared with this optimal temperature, extremely hot temperatures (99th percentile) were associated with an increase in overall claims (RR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.18-1.44) whereas a non-significant increase was observed with extremely cold temperatures (1st percentile, RR: 1.10 (95%CI: 0.99-1.21). Heat exposure had an acute effect on workers' injuries whereas cold conditions resulted in delayed effects. Moderate temperatures were associated with a greater injury burden than extreme temperatures. CONCLUSION: Days of very high temperatures were associated with the greatest risks of occupational injuries; whereas moderate temperatures, which occur more commonly, have the greatest burden. These findings suggest that the broader range of thermal conditions should be considered in workplace injury and illness prevention strategies.
Authors: Alana L Hansen; Susan Williams; Scott Hanson-Easey; Blesson M Varghese; Peng Bi; Jane Heyworth; Monika Nitschke; Shelley Rowett; Malcolm R Sim; Dino L Pisaniello Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-29 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ralf Dethlefsen; Luisa Orlik; Martin Müller; Aristomenis K Exadaktylos; Stefan M Scholz; Jolanta Klukowska-Rötzler; Mairi Ziaka Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-08 Impact factor: 4.614