目标:全球变暖导致极端高温事件的数量和强度增加,对工人的健康和安全构成重大威胁,尤其是那些在户外工作的人,因为他们经常有限地使用冷却策略。本系统文献综述(a)总结了当前关于气候变化对户外工人影响的知识,(b)提供关于这个问题的历史背景,(c)探讨减少和增加热应力复原力的因素,(d)讨论缓解热量的战略,(e)概述户外工人职业热暴露的现行政策和法律框架。
方法:在这篇系统综述中,我们搜索了包括Scopus(N=855)在内的科学数据库,WebofScience(N=828),和PubMed(N=202)。此外,我们通过GoogleScholar(N=116)使用特定的搜索词确定了有关气候变化和热应力控制措施的相关研究。总的来说,我们监测了2001年有关14个国家各种室外气候条件下工人人口(男性=2921;女性=627)的文章。经过全文评估,55项研究入选,最后,纳入29篇符合条件的论文进行数据提取。
结果:未能对户外工人实施有效的控制策略将导致对热应力的抵抗力下降。调查结果强调,人们缺乏对某些适应战略和干预措施的认识,这些战略和干预措施旨在预防和增强应对气候变化对户外热带和亚热带环境中工人热应激流行率的影响。然而,在热应激恢复能力的总体评估中,从经济和生态可持续性方面有吸引力的替代解决方案可以称为适应,阴影,优化服装性能和计划休息。
结论:将气候变化适应策略纳入职业健康计划可以增强户外工人的职业热恢复力。对于低收入和中等收入的热带和亚热带国家的专业人员和决策者来说,对户外工人的热应力适应策略进行健康和安全措施的成本效益评估至关重要。在这方面,针对水合作用的补充措施,工作休息制度,通风服装,自我起搏,可以采用机械化来保护户外工人。风险管理战略,适应性措施,热风险意识,实际干预,培训计划,应在炎热干燥和炎热潮湿的气候中实施保护政策,以提高户外工人的容忍度和韧性。
OBJECTIVE: Global warming has led to an increase in the number and intensity of extreme heat events, posing a significant threat to the health and safety of workers, especially those working outdoors, as they often have limited access to cooling strategies. The present systematic literature review (a) summarizes the current knowledge on the impacts of climate change on outdoor workers, (b) provides historical background on this issue, (c) explores factors that reduce and increase thermal stress resilience, (d) discusses the heat mitigation strategies, and (e) provides an overview of existing policy and legal frameworks on occupational heat exposure among outdoor workers.
METHODS: In this systematic review, we searched scientific databases including Scopus (N = 855), Web of Science (N = 828), and PubMed (N = 202). Additionally, we identified relevant studies on climate change and heat-stress control measures through Google Scholar (N = 116) using specific search terms. In total, we monitored 2001 articles pertaining to worker populations (men = 2921; women = 627) in various outdoor climate conditions across 14 countries. After full-text assessment, 55 studies were selected for inclusion, and finally, 29 eligible papers were included for data extraction.
RESULTS: Failure to implement effective control strategies for outdoor workers will result in decreased resilience to thermal stress. The findings underscore a lack of awareness regarding certain adaptation strategies and interventions aimed at preventing and enhancing resilience to the impact of climate change on heat stress prevalence among workers in outdoor tropical and subtropical environments. However, attractive alternative solutions from the aspects of economic and ecological sustainability in the overall assessment of heat stress resilience can be referred to acclimatization, shading, optimized clothing properties and planned breaks.
CONCLUSIONS: The integration of climate change adaptation strategies into occupational health programs can enhance occupational heat resilience among outdoor workers. Conducting cost-benefit evaluations of health and safety measures for thermal stress adaptation strategies among outdoor workers is crucial for professionals and policymakers in low- and middle-income tropical and subtropical countries. In this respect, complementary measures targeting hydration, work-rest regimes, ventilated garments, self-pacing, and mechanization can be adopted to protect outdoor workers. Risk management strategies, adaptive measures, heat risk awareness, practical interventions, training programs, and protective policies should be implemented in hot-dry and hot-humid climates to boost the tolerance and resilience of outdoor workers.