Journal article
Occupational heat-related illness in Washington State: A descriptive study of day of illness and prior day ambient temperatures among cases and clusters, 2006-2021
American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.66(8), pp.623-636
08/2023
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23506
PMCID: PMC10330917
PMID: 37291066
Abstract
Background: Insufficient heat acclimatization is a risk factor for heat-related illness (HRI) morbidity, particularly during periods of sudden temperature increase. We sought to characterize heat exposure on days before, and days of, occupational HRIs.
Methods: A total of 1241 Washington State workers' compensation State Fund HRI claims from 2006 to 2021 were linked with modeled parameter-elevation regressions on independent slopes model (PRISM) meteorological data. We determined location-specific maximum temperatures (T-max,T-PRISM) on the day of illness (DOI) and prior days, and whether the T-max,T-PRISM was >= 10.0 degrees F (similar to 5.6 degrees C) higher than the average of past 5 days ("sudden increase") for each HRI claim. Claims occurring on days with >= 10 HRI claims ("clusters") were compared with "non-cluster" claims using t tests and chi(2) tests.
Results: Seventy-six percent of analyzed HRI claims occurred on days with a T-max,T-PRISM >= 80 degrees F. Claims occurring on "cluster" days, compared to "non-cluster" days, had both a significantly higher mean DOI T-max,T-PRISM (99.3 degrees F vs. 85.8 degrees F [37.4 degrees C vs. 29.9 degrees C], t(148) = -18, p < 0.001) and a higher proportion of "sudden increase" claims (80.2% vs. 24.3%, chi(2)[1] = 132.9, p < 0.001). Compared to "cluster" days, HRI claims occurring during the 2021 Pacific Northwest "heat dome" had a similar increased trajectory of mean T-max,T-PRISM on the days before the DOI, but with higher mean T-max,T-PRISM.
Conclusions: Occupational HRI risk assessments should consider both current temperatures and changes in temperatures relative to prior days. Heat prevention programs should include provisions to address acclimatization and, when increases in temperature occur too quickly to allow for sufficient acclimatization, additional precautions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Occupational heat-related illness in Washington State: A descriptive study of day of illness and prior day ambient temperatures among cases and clusters, 2006-2021
- Creators
- June T. Spector - University of WashingtonLuke Sampson - United States Department of StateJohn C. Flunker - University of WashingtonDarrin Adams - United States Department of StateDavid K. Bonauto - United States Department of State
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of industrial medicine, Vol.66(8), pp.623-636
- DOI
- 10.1002/ajim.23506
- PMID
- 37291066
- PMCID
- PMC10330917
- NLM abbreviation
- Am J Ind Med
- ISSN
- 0271-3586
- eISSN
- 1097-0274
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- 1NU38OT000297-03-00 / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Cooperative Agreement; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA T32ES015459 / National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2023
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984737965902771
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