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Document ID (ISN)112152
CIS number 11-0775
ISSN - Serial title 1545-9624 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Year 2009
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Schulte P.A., Chun H.
Title Climate change and occupational safety and health: Establishing a preliminary framework
Bibliographic information Sep. 2009, Vol.6, No.9, p.542-554. Illus. 136 ref.
Internet access Climate_change.pdf [in English]
Abstract This article develops framework for identifying how climate change could affect occupational safety and health based on a review of the published scientific literature from 1988-2008 that includes climatic effects, their interaction with occupational hazards, and their manifestation in the working population. Seven categories of climate-related hazards are identified: increased ambient temperature, air pollution, ultraviolet exposure, extreme weather, vector-borne diseases and expanded habitats, industrial transitions and emerging industries; changes in the built environment. This review indicates that while climate change may result in increasing the prevalence, distribution and severity of known occupational hazards, there is no evidence of unique or previously unknown hazards. However, such a possibility should not be excluded, since there is potential for interactions of known hazards and new conditions leading to new hazards and risks.
Descriptors (primary) climate; natural phenomena; protection against natural phenomena; health hazards; risk factors
Descriptors (secondary) ultraviolet radiation; atmospheric pollution; hot workplaces; outdoor work; infectious diseases; social aspects; literature survey
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Generalities
Broad subject area(s) General safety, health and conditions of work
Browse category(ies) Natural phenomena
Heat and cold
Air pollution
Environmental pollution