An Occupational Heat–Health Warning System for Europe: The HEAT-SHIELD Platform

Marco Morabito, Alessandro Messeri, Pascal Noti, Ana Casanueva, Alfonso Crisci, Sven Kotlarski, Simone Orlandini, Cornelia Schwierz, Christoph Spirig, Boris R.M. Kingma, Andreas D. Flouris and Lars Nybo
Additional contact information
Marco Morabito: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council, 50019 Florence, Italy
Alessandro Messeri: Centre of Bioclimatology—University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy
Pascal Noti: Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Zurich Airport, 8058 Zurich, Switzerland
Ana Casanueva: Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Zurich Airport, 8058 Zurich, Switzerland
Alfonso Crisci: Institute of BioEconomy—National Research Council, 50019 Florence, Italy
Sven Kotlarski: Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Zurich Airport, 8058 Zurich, Switzerland
Simone Orlandini: Centre of Bioclimatology—University of Florence, 50144 Florence, Italy
Cornelia Schwierz: Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Zurich Airport, 8058 Zurich, Switzerland
Christoph Spirig: Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Zurich Airport, 8058 Zurich, Switzerland
Boris R.M. Kingma: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Andreas D. Flouris: FAME Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Karies, Greece
Lars Nybo: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: Existing heat–health warning systems focus on warning vulnerable groups in order to reduce mortality. However, human health and performance are affected at much lower environmental heat strain levels than those directly associated with higher mortality. Moreover, workers are at elevated health risks when exposed to prolonged heat. This study describes the multilingual “HEAT-SHIELD occupational warning system” platform (https://heatshield.zonalab.it/) operating for Europe and developed within the framework of the HEAT-SHIELD project. This system is based on probabilistic medium-range forecasts calibrated on approximately 1800 meteorological stations in Europe and provides the ensemble forecast of the daily maximum heat stress. The platform provides a non-customized output represented by a map showing the weekly maximum probability of exceeding a specific heat stress condition, for each of the four upcoming weeks. Customized output allows the forecast of the personalized local heat-stress-risk based on workers’ physical, clothing and behavioral characteristics and the work environment (outdoors in the sun or shade), also taking into account heat acclimatization. Personal daily heat stress risk levels and behavioral suggestions (hydration and work breaks recommended) to be taken into consideration in the short term (5 days) are provided together with long-term heat risk forecasts (up to 46 days), all which are useful for planning work activities. The HEAT-SHIELD platform provides adaptation strategies for “managing” the impact of global warming.

Keywords: worker; customized forecast; Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT); risk level; heat adaptation; work breaks; hydration; European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF); global warming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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