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Gibb K, Beckman S, Vergara XP, Heinzerling A, Harrison R. Extreme Heat and Occupational Health Risks. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:315-335. [PMID: 38166501 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060222-034715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Climate change poses a significant occupational health hazard. Rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves are expected to cause increasing heat-related morbidity and mortality for workers across the globe. Agricultural, construction, military, firefighting, mining, and manufacturing workers are at particularly high risk for heat-related illness (HRI). Various factors, including ambient temperatures, personal protective equipment, work arrangements, physical exertion, and work with heavy equipment may put workers at higher risk for HRI. While extreme heat will impact workers across the world, workers in low- and middle-income countries will be disproportionately affected. Tracking occupational HRI will be critical to informing prevention and mitigation strategies. Renewed investment in these strategies, including workplace heat prevention programs and regulatory standards for indoor and outdoor workers, will be needed. Additional research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in order to successfully reduce the risk of HRI in the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Gibb
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA;
| | - Stella Beckman
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA;
| | | | - Amy Heinzerling
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA;
| | - Robert Harrison
- Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA;
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Parasram V, Socias-Morales C, Reichard A. Severe Work-Related Injuries in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry - 32 Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration Jurisdictions, United States, January 2015-July 2022. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2024; 73:104-109. [PMID: 38329907 PMCID: PMC10861202 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7305a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) severe injuries reports include work-related injuries from establishments under federal OSHA jurisdiction that result in an amputation, loss of an eye, or inpatient hospitalization. Data from 32 jurisdictions were examined to determine oil and gas extraction industry-specific severe industry trends during January 2015-July 2022, using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for oil and gas extraction. During this period, a total of 2,101 severe work-related injuries were reported in this sector. Among these severe work-related injuries, well service contract workers' injuries included the highest number of amputations (417) and hospitalizations (1,194), accounting for 20% and 57%, respectively, of all severe injuries reported. Overall, 895 (43%) of all severe injuries reported involved upper extremities. Contract workers in the service and drilling subindustries (NAICS codes 213112 and 213111, respectively) experienced disproportionately more work-related injuries compared with those in the operation subindustry (NAICS code 211). These injuries could be preventable by including contractors in worksite safety plans that administer the hierarchy of controls, are within an effective safety management system, and provide consistent safety training on work equipment, personal protective equipment, and daily site safety meetings that increase safety culture.
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Tustin CE, Tustin AW. Reports to OSHA of severe occupational injuries due to animals, 2015-2021. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:1009-1013. [PMID: 37668580 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Workers can be injured by animals such as mammals and insects. Previous studies found that most animal-related occupational fatalities were caused by horses and cattle. We analyzed characteristics of recent nonfatal severe animal-related injuries in US workers. METHODS The severe injury reports (SIR) database, collected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, contains employer self-reports of inpatient hospitalizations and amputations. We used 2015-2021 SIR data to assess properties of animal-related injuries, including the type of animal involved, the nature of the injury, and the industry of the employer. Industry-specific incidence rates were calculated. RESULTS We identified 788 severe animal-related injuries during the 7-year study period. Mammals caused over half of these injuries (476; 60.4%), followed by insects, arachnids, and mites (183; 23.2%) and reptiles (127; 16.1%). Two-thirds (529; 67.1%) of animal-related injuries were traumatic, while 211 (28.0%) injuries were due to poisoning or allergic reaction. The highest observed incidence was in livestock merchant wholesalers (59.6 severe injuries per 100,000 workers per year); injuries in this industry were often due to cattle. Mail delivery and landscape architecture, two industries in which animal contact is atypical, were also among the 10 industries with the highest incidence. CONCLUSIONS Workers in many industries experienced severe injuries due to animals. Among workers whose job involves animal contact, cattle workers appear to be at highest risk. Outdoor workers in some industries require protection from bites of dogs, snakes, and insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canela E Tustin
- Radiant Occupational Health and Epidemiology LLC, Columbia, Maryland, USA
| | - Aaron W Tustin
- Radiant Occupational Health and Epidemiology LLC, Columbia, Maryland, USA
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Chicas RC, Wang Y, Jennifer Weil E, Elon L, Xiuhtecutli N, C Houser M, Jones DP, M Sands J, Hertzberg V, McCauley L, Liang D. The impact of heat exposures on biomarkers of AKI and plasma metabolome among agricultural and non-agricultural workers. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108206. [PMID: 37734144 PMCID: PMC10637212 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Agricultural workers are consistently exposed to elevated heat exposures and vulnerable to acute kidney injury. The underlying pathophysiology and detailed molecular mechanisms of AKI among agricultural workers, and the disproportionate burden of HRI and heat stress exposure are not well understood, especially at the level of cellular metabolism. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the impact of heat exposures on renal biomarkers and on the human metabolome via untargeted high-resolution metabolomics among agricultural and non-agricultural workers. METHODS Blood and urine samples were collected pre- and post-work shift from 63 agricultural workers and 27 non- agricultural workers. We evaluated pre- and post-work shift renal biomarkers and completed untargeted metabolomics using high-resolution mass spectrometry with liquid chromatography. Metabolome-wide association studies (MWAS) models identified the metabolic features differentially expressed between agricultural workers and non-agricultural workers. RESULTS Median values of pre-shift creatinine and osteopontin (p < 0.05) were higher for agricultural workers than non-agricultural workers. Metabolic pathway enrichment analyses revealed 27 diverse pathways differed between agricultural workers and non-agricultural workers (p < 0.05) including TCA cycle and urea cycle, carbohydrate metabolism, histidine metabolism and evidence for altered microbiome shikimate pathway. CONCLUSION This is the first investigation on the metabolic pathways that are affected among agricultural workers who are exposed to heat compared to non-heat exposed workers. This study shows extensive responses of central metabolic systems to heat exposures that impact human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana C Chicas
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Yilin Wang
- Rollins School of Public Health, Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - E Jennifer Weil
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Lisa Elon
- Rollins School of Public Health, Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Farmworker Association of Florida, Apopka, FL, USA.
| | - Madelyn C Houser
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Dean P Jones
- Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Jeff M Sands
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Vicki Hertzberg
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Linda McCauley
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Donghai Liang
- Rollins School of Public Health, Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Gomes H, Parasram V, Collins J, Socias-Morales C. Time series, seasonality and trend evaluation of 7 years (2015-2021) of OSHA severe injury data. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2023; 86:30-38. [PMID: 37718058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
PROBLEM Employers are required to report severe work-related injuries (e.g., amputation, inpatient hospitalization, or loss of an eye), to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This study examined the OSHA severe injury reports (SIRs) public microdata to understand time-related trends and patterns. METHODS This study included all SIRs from January 2015 to December 2021 (84 months). We employed time series decomposition models (classical additive and multiplicative, X-11, and X-13ARIMA-SEATS) to evaluate monthly seasonal effect and seasonally adjusted trend of SIRs. We developed data visuals to display trends from different models with the original data series. We compared number of daily SIRs by day of the week, and yearly trends by 2-digit NAICS and separately by 1-digit OIICS injury event. RESULTS There were a total of 70,241 SIRs in this 7 year period; ranging from 8,704 to 11,156 per year, and 600 to 1,100 per month. Seasonally adjusted trend indicated a gradual increase of SIRs over time until October 2018, then a steeper decrease until August 2020, and staying somewhat flat for the rest of the months. Seasonality indicated more SIRs were reported in the summer months (June, July, August). Daily SIRs indicated a weekday average of 34 (SD = 9) and weekend average of 11 (SD = 5). The Manufacturing and Construction industries reported the highest yearly SIRs. Contact with objects and equipment, and falls, slips, trips were the most numerous injury events associated with SIRs. DISCUSSION Although Federal OSHA SIR data do not include SIRs from state-plan jurisdictions, the data provide a timely national trend of SIR. This is the first known time series analysis of SIRs. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The findings of this study highlight the ability of researchers to use the SIRs as a timely indicator to understand occupational injury trends by specific industries and injury events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold Gomes
- Division of Safety Research (DSR), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| | - Vidisha Parasram
- Division of Safety Research (DSR), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - James Collins
- Division of Safety Research (DSR), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Christina Socias-Morales
- Division of Safety Research (DSR), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Aoun M, Chelala D. Where do you live and what do you do? Two questions that might impact your kidney health. FRONTIERS IN NEPHROLOGY 2022; 2:1011964. [PMID: 37675017 PMCID: PMC10479685 DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2022.1011964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
In many cases the social determinants of health need to be assessed through their interaction with environmental factors. This review looks at the impact of physical location and occupation of individuals on their kidney health. It examines the effect of living at high altitude on kidney function and the relationship between extreme cold or hot temperatures and the incidence of kidney injury. It reviews as well the many occupations that have been linked to kidney disease in high-income and low-and-middle-income countries. As a conclusion, this overview proposes preventive recommendations that could be individualized based on weather, altitude, socio-economic level of the country and occupation of the individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Aoun
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Chavez Santos E, Spector JT, Egbert J, Krenz J, Sampson PD, Palmández P, Torres E, Blancas M, Carmona J, Jung J, Flunker JC. The effect of the participatory heat education and awareness tools (HEAT) intervention on agricultural worker physiological heat strain: results from a parallel, comparison, group randomized study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1746. [PMID: 36104813 PMCID: PMC9476265 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14144-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Farmworkers are at risk of heat-related illness (HRI). We sought to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of farmworker Spanish/English participatory heat education and a supervisor decision-support mobile application (HEAT intervention) on physiological heat strain; and 2) describe factors associated with HRI symptoms reporting. METHODS We conducted a parallel, comparison group intervention study from May-September of 2019 in Central/Eastern Washington State, USA. We used convenience sampling to recruit adult outdoor farmworkers and allocated participating crews to intervention (n = 37 participants) and alternative-training comparison (n = 38 participants) groups. We measured heat strain monthly using heart rate and estimated core body temperature to compute the maximum work-shift physiological strain index (PSImax) and assessed self-reported HRI symptoms using a weekly survey. Multivariable linear mixed effects models were used to assess associations of the HEAT intervention with PSImax, and bivariate mixed models were used to describe factors associated with HRI symptoms reported (0, 1, 2+ symptoms), with random effects for workers. RESULTS We observed larger decreases in PSImax in the intervention versus comparison group for higher work exertion levels (categorized as low, low/medium-low, and high effort), after adjustment for maximum work-shift ambient Heat Index (HImax), but this was not statistically significant (interaction - 0.91 for high versus low/medium-low effort, t = - 1.60, p = 0.11). We observed a higher PSImax with high versus low/medium-low effort (main effect 1.96, t = 3.81, p < 0.001) and a lower PSImax with older age (- 0.03, t = - 2.95, p = 0.004), after covariate adjustment. There was no clear relationship between PSImax and the number of HRI symptoms reported. Reporting more symptoms was associated with older age, higher HImax, 10+ years agricultural work, not being an H-2A guest worker, and walking > 3 min to get to the toilet at work. CONCLUSIONS Effort level should be addressed in heat management plans, for example through work/rest cycles, rotation, and pacing, in addition to education and other factors that influence heat stress. Both symptoms and indicators of physiological heat strain should be monitored, if possible, during periods of high heat stress to increase the sensitivity of early HRI detection and prevention. Structural barriers to HRI prevention must also be addressed. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT04234802 , date first posted 21/01/2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Chavez Santos
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - June T. Spector
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Jared Egbert
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA ,grid.416237.50000 0004 0418 9357Department of Preventive Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Jennifer Krenz
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Paul D. Sampson
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Pablo Palmández
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center/Radio KDNA, Granger, WA USA
| | - Maria Blancas
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Jose Carmona
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - Jihoon Jung
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
| | - John C. Flunker
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 USA
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Flunker JC, Zuidema C, Jung J, Kasner E, Cohen M, Seto E, Austin E, Spector JT. Potential Impacts of Different Occupational Outdoor Heat Exposure Thresholds among Washington State Crop and Construction Workers and Implications for Other Jurisdictions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11583. [PMID: 36141863 PMCID: PMC9517246 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Occupational heat exposure is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among outdoor workers. We sought to descriptively evaluate spatiotemporal variability in heat threshold exceedances and describe potential impacts of these exposures for crop and construction workers. We also present general considerations for approaching heat policy-relevant analyses. We analyzed county-level 2011-2020 monthly employment (Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) and environmental exposure (Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)) data for Washington State (WA), USA, crop (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 111 and 1151) and construction (NAICS 23) sectors. Days exceeding maximum daily temperature thresholds, averaged per county, were linked with employment estimates to generate employment days of exceedances. We found spatiotemporal variability in WA temperature threshold exceedances and crop and construction employment. Maximum temperature exceedances peaked in July and August and were most numerous in Central WA counties. Counties with high employment and/or high numbers of threshold exceedance days, led by Yakima and King Counties, experienced the greatest total employment days of exceedances. Crop employment contributed to the largest proportion of total state-wide employment days of exceedances with Central WA counties experiencing the greatest potential workforce burden of exposure. Considerations from this analysis can help inform decision-making regarding thresholds, timing of provisions for heat rules, and tailoring of best practices in different industries and areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C. Flunker
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Christopher Zuidema
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jihoon Jung
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Edward Kasner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Martin Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Edmund Seto
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Elena Austin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - June T. Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Safety & Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA 98504, USA
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