Occupational Heat Stress, Health Outcomes, and the Role of Occupational Health Surveillance in the Era of Climate Change
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36125/ijoehy.v17i1.594Keywords:
occupational heat stressAbstract
Heat stress is an emerging occupational hazard driven by climate change and by increasing exposure to high-temperature work environments in multiple sectors. The combined effects of environmental heat load, metabolic work and clothing insulation can exceed the body’s thermoregulatory capacity, leading to heat strain and a broad spectrum of acute and chronic health effects. Although the physiological mechanisms of thermal stress are well described, its implications for occupational health practice and workplace preventive systems remain insufficiently integrated into routine surveillance frameworks. This narrative review examines the effects of occupational heat stress on human health and critically evaluates the role of occupational health surveillance and the Occupational Physician (OP) in managing heat-related risks at the workplace. Evidence from occupational medicine, physiology, epidemiology and ergonomics is synthesized to describe acute outcomes such as heat exhaustion, exertional heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis, as well as chronic effects including renal impairment, cardiovascular strain, neurocognitive alterations and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vulnerable worker groups, biomarkers of physiological stress and the challenges posed by personal protective equipment (PPE) are discussed. Finally, the review addresses occupational health surveillance requirements, clinical assessment, fitness-to-work evaluations and preventive strategies rooted in the hierarchy of controls. Findings indicate that heat stress constitutes a clinical, ergonomic and organizational challenge that requires an expanded preventive role for the OP within a climate adaptation framework. Strengthening surveillance systems, integrating physiological monitoring and redefining fitness-to-work criteria will be essential for protecting workers’ health in a warming world.
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