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Workers’ Perception Heat Stress: Results from a Pilot Study Conducted in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Michela Bonafede

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Miriam Levi

    (Epidemiology Unit, Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority Tuscany Centre, 50135 Florence, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Emma Pietrafesa

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Alessandra Binazzi

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Alessandro Marinaccio

    (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00143 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Marco Morabito

    (Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council (IBE-CNR), 50019 Florence, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Iole Pinto

    (Physical Agents Sector, Regional Public Health Laboratory, 53100 Siena, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Francesca de’ Donato

    (Department of Epidemiology Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL ROMA 1, 00147 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Valentina Grasso

    (LaMMA Consortium—Weather Forecaster and Researcher at Laboratory of Monitoring and Environmental Modelling for Sustainable Development, 50019 Florence, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Tiziano Costantini

    (Department of Epidemiology Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL ROMA 1, 00147 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

  • Alessandro Messeri

    (LaMMA Consortium—Weather Forecaster and Researcher at Laboratory of Monitoring and Environmental Modelling for Sustainable Development, 50019 Florence, Italy
    Climate and Sustainability Foundation, 50100 Florence, Italy
    AMPRO—Professional Weather Association, 00142 Rome, Italy
    Membership of the WORKLIMATE Collaborative Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

Abstract

Many workers are exposed to the effects of heat and often to extreme temperatures. Heat stress has been further aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic by the use of personal protective equipment to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, workers’ risk perception of heat stress is often low, with negative effects on their health and productivity. The study aims to identify workers’ needs and gaps in knowledge, suggesting the adaptation of measures that best comply with the needs of both workers and employers. A cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted in Italy in the hottest months of 2020 (June–October) through different multimedia channels. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics; analytical tests and analysis of variance were used to evaluate differences between groups of workers. In total, 345 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The whole sample of respondents declared that heat is an important contributor to productivity loss and 83% of workers did not receive heat warnings from their employer. In this context, the internet is considered as the main source of information about heat-related illness in the workplace. Results highlight the need to increase workers’ perception of heat stress in the workplace to safeguard their health and productivity. About two-thirds of the sample stated that working in the sun without access to shaded areas, working indoors without adequate ventilation, and nearby fire, steam, and hot surfaces, represent the main injuries’ risk factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Michela Bonafede & Miriam Levi & Emma Pietrafesa & Alessandra Binazzi & Alessandro Marinaccio & Marco Morabito & Iole Pinto & Francesca de’ Donato & Valentina Grasso & Tiziano Costantini & Alessandro , 2022. "Workers’ Perception Heat Stress: Results from a Pilot Study Conducted in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:8196-:d:855676
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Siegrist & Carmen Keller & Henk A. L. Kiers, 2005. "A New Look at the Psychometric Paradigm of Perception of Hazards," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 211-222, February.
    2. Nanda Kaji Budhathoki & Kerstin K. Zander, 2019. "Socio-Economic Impact of and Adaptation to Extreme Heat and Cold of Farmers in the Food Bowl of Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Alessandro Messeri & Michela Bonafede & Emma Pietrafesa & Iole Pinto & Francesca de’Donato & Alfonso Crisci & Jason Kai Wei Lee & Alessandro Marinaccio & Miriam Levi & Marco Morabito & on behalf of th, 2021. "A Web Survey to Evaluate the Thermal Stress Associated with Personal Protective Equipment among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Sabrina K. Beckmann & Michael Hiete, 2020. "Predictors Associated with Health-Related Heat Risk Perception of Urban Citizens in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, January.
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