Climate change and occupational heat stress: the evolving role of industrial hygiene in risk assessment, management and prevention

Authors

  • Angela Stufano Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36125/ijoehy.v17i1.593

Keywords:

climate change, occupational heat stress

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the most significant emerging determinants of occupational health risk worldwide. Rising global temperatures and the growing frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves are progressively altering the environmental conditions under which work is performed, leading to a substantial increase in occupational exposure to heat across a wide range of economic sectors

Author Biography

  • Angela Stufano, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia

    ..

References

Ebi KL, Capon A, Berry P, Broderick C, de Dear R, Havenith G, Honda Y, Kovats RS, Ma W, Malik A, Morris NB, Nybo L, Seneviratne SI, Vanos J, Jay O. Hot weather and heat extremes: health risks. Lancet. 2021, 21;398(10301):698-708. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01208-3.

Cramer MN, Gagnon D, Laitano O, Crandall CG. Human temperature regulation under heat stress in health, disease, and injury. Physiol Rev. 2022, 1;102(4):1907-1989. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00047.2021.

Xu J, Wang Q, Anikeeva O, Zhu P, Bi P, Huang C. Effects of extreme heat on physiology, morbidity, and mortality under climate change: mechanisms and clinical implications. BMJ. 2025, 29;391:e084675. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-084675.

Hsu A, Sheriff G, Chakraborty T, Manya D. Disproportionate exposure to urban heat island intensity across major US cities. Nat Commun. 2021 May 25;12(1):2721. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22799-5. Erratum in: Nat Commun. 2021,28;12(1):4104. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23972-6.

De Sario M, de'Donato FK, Bonafede M, Marinaccio A, Levi M, Ariani F, Morabito M, Michelozzi P. Occupational heat stress, heat-related effects and the related social and economic loss: a scoping literature review. Front Public Health. 2023, 2;11:1173553. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1173553.

Baek S, Choi EH. Climate change health risks and workplace protective strategies for construction workers. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 20;16(1):3423. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33471-z.

Gao C, Kuklane K, Östergren PO, Kjellstrom T. Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change. Int J Biometeorol. 2018;62(3):359-371. doi: 10.1007/s00484-017-1352-y.

Khorshid S, Song S. Exploring Intervention Strategies to Prevent Occupational Heat Stress. A Scoping Review. Saf Health Work. 2025 Jun;16(2):134-144. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2025.03.005.

Esmaeili SV, Paridokht F, Shalili A, Mohsenian A, Dehghan H. Improving heat stress prevention through targeted education in hot and humid workplaces: a study in a foundry industry. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):2613. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23851-5.

Chirico F, Magnavita N. The significant role of health surveillance in the occupational heat stress assessment. Int J Biometeorol. 2019;63(2):193-194. doi: 10.1007/s00484-018-1651-y.

Errico E, DI Nunzio D. Heatwaves and occupational health and safety in Italy: the role of trade unions and social dialogue. Ind Health. 2026 20;64(1):96-106. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2025-0107.

Turner MC, Basagaña X, Albin M, Broberg K, Burdorf A, van Daalen KR, Guseva Canu I, Kolstad HA, Kogevinas M, Lowe R, Pearce N, Pega F, Saget C, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Svensson S, Vineis P, Straif K. Occupational health in the era of climate change and the green transition: a call for research. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025, 21;54:101353. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101353.

Habibi P, Razmjouei J, Moradi A, Mahdavi F, Fallah-Aliabadi S, Heydari A. Climate change and heat stress resilient outdoor workers: findings from systematic literature review. BMC Public Health. 2024, 26;24(1):1711. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19212-3.

Schulte PA, Bhattacharya A, Butler CR, Chun HK, Jacklitsch B, Jacobs T, Kiefer M, Lincoln J, Pendergrass S, Shire J, Watson J, Wagner GR. Advancing the framework for considering the effects of climate change on worker safety and health. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2016;13(11):847-65. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2016.1179388.

Gourzoulidis G, Gofa F, Ioannou LG, Konstantakopoulos I, Flouris AD. Developing a Feasible Integrated Framework for Occupational Heat Stress Protection: A Step Towards Safer Working Environments. Med Lav. 2023, 24;114(5):e2023043. doi: 10.23749/mdl.v114i5.14504.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-07

Issue

Section

Editorial