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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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12231-4 |
| _version_ | 1818841077519482880 |
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| 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 |
| collection | DOAJ |
| 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:20:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:20:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d994e25f33bb43a99dbce48de8c6a0f92022-12-21T20:36:10ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-11-0121111610.1186/s12889-021-12231-4Perceptions of workplace heat exposure and adaption behaviors among Chinese construction workers in the context of climate changeShu-Rong Han0Mingru Wei1Zhifeng Wu2Shanshan Duan3Xiangzhe Chen4Jiayuan Yang5Matthew A. Borg6Jinfeng Lin7Chuancheng Wu8Jianjun Xiang9International Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversityInternational Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversityInternational Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversityInternational Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversityInternational Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversityInternational Business School, Shaanxi Normal UniversitySchool of Public Health, The University of AdelaideFujian Center for Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases and Chemical PoisoningDepartment of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical UniversitySchool of Public Health, The University of AdelaideAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12231-4PerceptionAdaptationHeat exposureHealth and safetyClimate change |
| spellingShingle | 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 BMC Public Health Perception Adaptation Heat exposure Health and safety Climate change |
| title | 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_short | 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 |
| topic | Perception Adaptation Heat exposure Health and safety Climate change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12231-4 |
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