Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces
Subject
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces
Description
Introduction: Prevention of heat strokes has become increasingly
important due to global warming. The ambient wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) data is available nationwide in Japan; however,
it is unknown whether it is relevant to the severity of heat-related
illnesses at workplaces.
Material and Methods: Data of workers’ compensation registry in Japan during 2017–2019 was analyzed to investigate the factors causing lethality or loss of 2 weeks or more of workdays (severe cases) from heat-related illnesses. Climate data of the closest locations were linked with registered cases.
Results: Total of 67 workers lost their lives, 666 workers lost 2 weeks or more of workdays, and 1818 workers lost 4–13 workdays. The proportions of severe cases were 21.3%, 27.4%, 30.4%, and 38.7% in workers at <40, 40–49, 50–59, and 60+ years old, respectively; 26.6%, 33.0%, and 29.6% in those occurred in ambient temperature of <32°C, 32–33°C, 34+°C, respectively; 24.5%, 30.1%, 30.6%, and 36.8% in those occurred in ambient WBGT of <28°C, 28–30°C, 31–32°C, and 33+°C, respectively; 33.3%, 29.7%, 27.7%, and 25.2% in those occurred in June, July, August, and September, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated factors associated with severe cases were age (p<0.0001), WBGT (p=0.007), globe temperature (p=0.03), and temperature (p=0.04).
Discussion: In late summer, heat acclimatization might ameliorate
the severity of heat-related illnesses.
Conclusions: Age played the strongest role in exacerbating heat-
related illnesses at workplaces. Among environmental indices, WBGT
demonstrated the clearest association to the severity.
important due to global warming. The ambient wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) data is available nationwide in Japan; however,
it is unknown whether it is relevant to the severity of heat-related
illnesses at workplaces.
Material and Methods: Data of workers’ compensation registry in Japan during 2017–2019 was analyzed to investigate the factors causing lethality or loss of 2 weeks or more of workdays (severe cases) from heat-related illnesses. Climate data of the closest locations were linked with registered cases.
Results: Total of 67 workers lost their lives, 666 workers lost 2 weeks or more of workdays, and 1818 workers lost 4–13 workdays. The proportions of severe cases were 21.3%, 27.4%, 30.4%, and 38.7% in workers at <40, 40–49, 50–59, and 60+ years old, respectively; 26.6%, 33.0%, and 29.6% in those occurred in ambient temperature of <32°C, 32–33°C, 34+°C, respectively; 24.5%, 30.1%, 30.6%, and 36.8% in those occurred in ambient WBGT of <28°C, 28–30°C, 31–32°C, and 33+°C, respectively; 33.3%, 29.7%, 27.7%, and 25.2% in those occurred in June, July, August, and September, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated factors associated with severe cases were age (p<0.0001), WBGT (p=0.007), globe temperature (p=0.03), and temperature (p=0.04).
Discussion: In late summer, heat acclimatization might ameliorate
the severity of heat-related illnesses.
Conclusions: Age played the strongest role in exacerbating heat-
related illnesses at workplaces. Among environmental indices, WBGT
demonstrated the clearest association to the severity.
Creator
Seichi Horie, Riho Tanaka, Chikage Nagano, Hiroko Kitamura, Shoko Kawanami
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Files
Citation
Seichi Horie, Riho Tanaka, Chikage Nagano, Hiroko Kitamura, Shoko Kawanami, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 1 2022
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2358.
Exacerbation factors of heat-related illnesses at workplaces,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed November 21, 2024, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2358.