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Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Payel Acharya

    (Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Bethany Boggess

    (Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
    Workers Defense Project, Austin, TX 78753, USA)

  • Kai Zhang

    (Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
    Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

Abstract

Construction workers are at an elevated risk of heat stress, due to the strenuous nature of the work, high temperature work condition, and a changing climate. An increasing number of workers are at risk, as the industry’s growth has been fueled by high demand and vast numbers of immigrant workers entering into the U.S., the Middle East and Asia to meet the demand. The risk of heat-related illnesses is increased by the fact that little to no regulations are present and/or enforced to protect these workers. This review recognizes the issues by summarizing epidemiological studies both in the U.S. and internationally. These studies have assessed the severity with which construction workers are affected by heat stress, risk factors and co-morbidities associated with heat-related illnesses in the construction industry, vulnerable populations, and efforts in implementing preventive measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Payel Acharya & Bethany Boggess & Kai Zhang, 2018. "Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:247-:d:129867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrea Yunyan Jia & Steve Rowlinson & Martin Loosemore & Mengnan Xu & Baizhan Li & Alistair Gibb, 2017. "Institutions and institutional logics in construction safety management: the case of climatic heat stress," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(6), pages 338-367, June.
    2. Peter A. Stott & D. A. Stone & M. R. Allen, 2004. "Human contribution to the European heatwave of 2003," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7017), pages 610-614, December.
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    1. Mehdi Torbat Esfahani & Ibukun Awolusi & Yilmaz Hatipkarasulu, 2024. "Heat Stress Prevention in Construction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors and Control Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Haruna M. Moda & Walter Leal Filho & Aprajita Minhas, 2019. "Impacts of Climate Change on Outdoor Workers and Their Safety: Some Research Priorities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Ruth McDermott-Levy & Madeline Scolio & Kabindra M. Shakya & Caroline H. Moore, 2021. "Factors That Influence Climate Change-Related Mortality in the United States: An Integrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Nanda Kaji Budhathoki & Kerstin K. Zander, 2019. "Socio-Economic Impact of and Adaptation to Extreme Heat and Cold of Farmers in the Food Bowl of Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, May.
    5. Nobuki Hashiguchi & Jianfei Cao & Yeongjoo Lim & Yasushi Kubota & Shigeo Kitahara & Shuichi Ishida & Kota Kodama, 2020. "The Effects of Psychological Factors on Perceptions of Productivity in Construction Sites in Japan by Worker Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Ann Marie Dale & Diane S. Rohlman & Lisa Hayibor & Bradley A. Evanoff, 2021. "Work Organization Factors Associated with Health and Work Outcomes among Apprentice Construction Workers: Comparison between the Residential and Commercial Sectors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Vollmar, Steffen & Wening, Fabian, 2024. "Does heat stress deteriorate the quality of banks’ loan portfolios? Evidence from U.S. community banks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    8. Jaime Madrigano & Kathryn Lane & Nada Petrovic & Munerah Ahmed & Micheline Blum & Thomas Matte, 2018. "Awareness, Risk Perception, and Protective Behaviors for Extreme Heat and Climate Change in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, July.
    9. Kevin Riley & Holly Wilhalme & Linda Delp & David P. Eisenman, 2018. "Mortality and Morbidity during Extreme Heat Events and Prevalence of Outdoor Work: An Analysis of Community-Level Data from Los Angeles County, California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Minsu Lee & Jaemin Jeong & Jaewook Jeong & Jaehyun Lee, 2021. "Exploring Fatalities and Injuries in Construction by Considering Thermal Comfort Using Uncertainty and Relative Importance Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-30, May.
    11. Nobuki Hashiguchi & Shintaro Sengoku & Yasushi Kubota & Shigeo Kitahara & Yeongjoo Lim & Kota Kodama, 2020. "Age-Dependent Influence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations on Construction Worker Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-21, December.
    12. Bruce C. Mitchell & Jayajit Chakraborty & Pratyusha Basu, 2021. "Social Inequities in Urban Heat and Greenspace: Analyzing Climate Justice in Delhi, India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.

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