Impacts of Climate Change on Outdoor Workers and Their Safety: Some Research Priorities

Haruna M. Moda, Walter Leal Filho and Aprajita Minhas
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Haruna M. Moda: Department of Health Professions, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M16 6BG, UK
Walter Leal Filho: Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Aprajita Minhas: Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, 21033 Hamburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-21

Abstract: The literature on the potential impacts of climate change on the health of outdoor workers has received limited attention as a whole, and in sub-Saharan African countries in particular. Yet, substantial numbers of workers are experiencing the health effects of elevated temperature, in combination with changes in precipitation patterns, climate extremes and the effects of air pollution, which have a potential impact on their safety and wellbeing. With increased temperatures within urban settlements and frequent heats waves, there has been a sudden rise in the occurrence of heat-related illness leading to higher levels of mortality, as well as other adverse health impacts. This paper discusses the impacts of extreme heat exposure and health concerns among outdoor workers, and the resultant impacts on their productivity and occupational safety in tropical developing countries with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a dearth of such studies. Aside from the direct effects caused by extreme heat exposure, other indirect health hazards associated with increasing heat among this group includes exposures to hazardous chemicals and other vector-borne diseases. In addition, reduced work capacity in heat-exposed jobs will continue to rise and hinder economic and social development in such countries. There is an urgent need for further studies around the health and economic impacts of climate change in the workplace, especially in tropical developing countries, which may guide the implementation of the measures needed to address the problem.

Keywords: adaptation strategy; outdoor workers; heat stress; research; developing countries (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 (9)

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