Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change

Abstract Background Workplace heat exposure can cause a series of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Protecting workers especially those undertake work outdoors from the risk of heat strain is a great challenge for many workplaces in China under the context of climate change. The aim of this study...

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Autores principales:	Shu-Rong Han, Mingru Wei, Zhifeng Wu, Shanshan Duan, Xiangzhe Chen, Jiayuan Yang, Matthew A. Borg, Jinfeng Lin, Chuancheng Wu, Jianjun Xiang
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Perception Adaptation Heat exposure Health and safety Climate change Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f9
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f92021-11-28T12:12:17ZPerceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change10.1186/s12889-021-12231-41471-2458https://doaj.org/article/d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f92021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12231-4https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2458Abstract Background Workplace heat exposure can cause a series of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Protecting workers especially those undertake work outdoors from the risk of heat strain is a great challenge for many workplaces in China under the context of climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions and adaptation behaviors of heat exposure among construction workers and to provide evidence for the development of targeted heat adaptation strategies nationally and internationally. Methods In 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey via WeChat Survey Star in China, using a purposive snowball sampling approach. A total of 326 construction workers submitted completed questionnaires. The perceptions of workplace heat exposure were measured using seven indicators: concerns over high temperature, perception of high temperature injury, attitudes towards both heat-related training and regulations, adjustment of working habits during heat, heat prevention measures in the workplace, and reduction of work efficiency. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify the factors significantly associated with workers’ heat perceptions and behavioral responses. Results 33.3% of the respondents were moderately or very concerned about heat exposure in the workplace. Less than half of the workers (43.8%) were worried about heat-related injuries. Workers who have either experienced work-related injuries (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.03–1.62) or witnessed injuries to others during high temperatures (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.02–1.27) were more concerned about heat exposure compared to other workers. Most respondents (63.5%) stated that their work efficiency declined during extremely hot weather. The factors significantly associated with a reduction of work efficiency included undertaking physically demanding jobs (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.54) and witnessing other workers’ injuries during high temperatures (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.11–1.43). More than half of the workers were willing to adjust their work habits to adapt to the impact of high temperatures (81.6%). The internet was the most common method to obtain heat prevention information (44.7%), and the most frequently used heat prevention measure was the provision of cool drinking water (64.8%). Conclusions Chinese construction workers lack heat risk awareness and are not well prepared for the likely increasing heat exposure in the workplace due to global warming. Therefore, there is a need to improve their awareness of heat-related injuries, strengthen high temperature related education and training, and update the current heat prevention policies to ensure compliance and implementation.Shu-Rong HanMingru WeiZhifeng WuShanshan DuanXiangzhe ChenJiayuan YangMatthew A. BorgJinfeng LinChuancheng WuJianjun XiangBMCarticlePerceptionAdaptationHeat exposureHealth and safetyClimate changePublic aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENBMC Public Health, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Perception Adaptation Heat exposure Health and safety Climate change Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Perception Adaptation Heat exposure Health and safety Climate change Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Shu-Rong Han Mingru Wei Zhifeng Wu Shanshan Duan Xiangzhe Chen Jiayuan Yang Matthew A. Borg Jinfeng Lin Chuancheng Wu Jianjun Xiang Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
description	Abstract Background Workplace heat exposure can cause a series of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Protecting workers especially those undertake work outdoors from the risk of heat strain is a great challenge for many workplaces in China under the context of climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions and adaptation behaviors of heat exposure among construction workers and to provide evidence for the development of targeted heat adaptation strategies nationally and internationally. Methods In 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey via WeChat Survey Star in China, using a purposive snowball sampling approach. A total of 326 construction workers submitted completed questionnaires. The perceptions of workplace heat exposure were measured using seven indicators: concerns over high temperature, perception of high temperature injury, attitudes towards both heat-related training and regulations, adjustment of working habits during heat, heat prevention measures in the workplace, and reduction of work efficiency. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify the factors significantly associated with workers’ heat perceptions and behavioral responses. Results 33.3% of the respondents were moderately or very concerned about heat exposure in the workplace. Less than half of the workers (43.8%) were worried about heat-related injuries. Workers who have either experienced work-related injuries (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.03–1.62) or witnessed injuries to others during high temperatures (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.02–1.27) were more concerned about heat exposure compared to other workers. Most respondents (63.5%) stated that their work efficiency declined during extremely hot weather. The factors significantly associated with a reduction of work efficiency included undertaking physically demanding jobs (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.54) and witnessing other workers’ injuries during high temperatures (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.11–1.43). More than half of the workers were willing to adjust their work habits to adapt to the impact of high temperatures (81.6%). The internet was the most common method to obtain heat prevention information (44.7%), and the most frequently used heat prevention measure was the provision of cool drinking water (64.8%). Conclusions Chinese construction workers lack heat risk awareness and are not well prepared for the likely increasing heat exposure in the workplace due to global warming. Therefore, there is a need to improve their awareness of heat-related injuries, strengthen high temperature related education and training, and update the current heat prevention policies to ensure compliance and implementation.
format	article
author	Shu-Rong Han Mingru Wei Zhifeng Wu Shanshan Duan Xiangzhe Chen Jiayuan Yang Matthew A. Borg Jinfeng Lin Chuancheng Wu Jianjun Xiang
author_facet	Shu-Rong Han Mingru Wei Zhifeng Wu Shanshan Duan Xiangzhe Chen Jiayuan Yang Matthew A. Borg Jinfeng Lin Chuancheng Wu Jianjun Xiang
author_sort	Shu-Rong Han
title	Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
title_short	Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
title_full	Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
title_fullStr	Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
title_full_unstemmed	Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
title_sort	perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among chinese construction workers in the context of climate change
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f9
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Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate change

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