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Effects of Temperatures and Heatwaves on Occupational Injuries in the Agricultural Sector in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Di Blasi

    (Department of Epidemiology Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL ROMA 1, 00147 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandro Marinaccio

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Claudio Gariazzo

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Taiano

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Michela Bonafede

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Antonio Leva

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Morabito

    (Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council (IBE-CNR), 50019 Florence, Italy)

  • Paola Michelozzi

    (Department of Epidemiology Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL ROMA 1, 00147 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca K. de’ Donato

    (Department of Epidemiology Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL ROMA 1, 00147 Rome, Italy)

  • on behalf of the Worklimate Collaborative Group

    (Membership of the Worklimate Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

Abstract

The effects of heat on health have been well documented, while less is known about the effects among agricultural workers. Our aim is to estimate the effects and impacts of heat on occupational injuries in the agricultural sector in Italy. Occupational injuries in the agricultural sector from the Italian national workers’ compensation authority (INAIL) and daily mean air temperatures from Copernicus ERA5-land for a five-year period (2014–2018) were considered. Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) were used to estimate the relative risk and attributable injuries for increases in daily mean air temperatures between the 75th and 99th percentile and during heatwaves. Analyses were stratified by age, professional qualification, and severity of injury. A total of 150,422 agricultural injuries were considered and the overall relative risk of injury for exposure to high temperatures was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.08; 1.18). A higher risk was observed among younger workers (15–34 years) (1.23 95% CI: 1.14; 1.34) and occasional workers (1.25 95% CI: 1.03; 1.52). A total of 2050 heat-attributable injuries were estimated in the study period. Workers engaged in outdoor and labour-intensive activities in the agricultural sector are at greater risk of injury and these results can help target prevention actions for climate change adaptation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Di Blasi & Alessandro Marinaccio & Claudio Gariazzo & Luca Taiano & Michela Bonafede & Antonio Leva & Marco Morabito & Paola Michelozzi & Francesca K. de’ Donato & on behalf of the Worklimate C, 2023. "Effects of Temperatures and Heatwaves on Occupational Injuries in the Agricultural Sector in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:2781-:d:1057946
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    References listed on IDEAS

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