Azienda USL di Reggio EmiliaV.le Amendola n.2 - 42122 REServizio di Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL)Dip. di Prevenzione.
Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) della Val Padana; Via Toscani n.1; Mantova (MN), Italy.
Acta Biomed. 2020 Jun 19;91(4):e2020094. doi: 10.23750/abm.v91i4.10035.
High environmental temperatures are associated with an increased risk for occupational injuries (OIs), particularly where environmental exposure and heat sources in the workplace, are associated with internal heat generation by strenuous muscular work. As a consequence, Agricultural Workers (AWs) are among the most heavily affected occupational groups.
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between environmental temperatures and OIs in AWs from the Po River Valley in the Northern Italy (27,736,158 total inhabitants; mean agricultural workforce of 312,195.6 individuals). Data about OIs from 2013 to 2017, and daily weather for the administrative unit of occurrence were retrieved. Days were classified by a) mininum (Tmin) / maximum (Tmax) air temperatures; b) average day temperature (Tday); c) daily temperature variation (TV), d) relative humidity. Risk for daily OIs was calculated as correspondent Odds Ratios (OR) through a Poisson regression model.
Estimated incidence for OIs was 66.3/1,000 workers-year. In regression analysis, for every Tday percentile increase equal to 2.5, an OR 1.007 (95% CI, 1.003 to 1.010) was reported. More precisely, higher risk for OIs was associated to Tmax > 25°C (OR 1.143, 95%CI 1.125-1.160) and to Tmax > 25°C + Tmin > 20°C (OR 1.158, 95%CI 1.138-1.179), Tmin < 0°C were associated with a significantly reduced risk (OR 0.879, 95%CI 0.850-0.910), with the notable exception of older age groups (OR 1.348, 95%CI 1.254; 1.449). During timeframes characterized by Tmax > 35°C (i.e. HW time period), the risk was higher during the first day (OR 1.266; 95%CI 1.206-1.330), and again from the fourth day onwards (OR 1.090; 95%CI 1.048 - 1.133). Analysis of TV identified an increased risk for occupational injuries in days characterized by higher variability, and particularly for TV ranging 4.0 - 4.9 (OR 1.042, 95%CI 1.017 - 1.068), and equals to 5.0 or greater (OR 1.143, 95%CI 1.118 - 1.167). Also increased relative humidity was associated with higher risk for OIs (OR 1.096, 95%CI 1.081-1.126, and OR 1.154, 95%CI 1.135-1.173 for relative humidity 70 - 89%, and ≥ 90%).
Our findings recommend policymakers to develop appropriate procedures and guidelines, in particular for the HW time periods.
高温环境与职业伤害（OIs）的风险增加有关，特别是在工作场所的环境暴露和热源与剧烈肌肉工作引起的内部热量产生有关的情况下。因此，农业工人（AWs）是受影响最严重的职业群体之一。
本研究旨在评估意大利北部波河流域（总人口 27736158 人；农业劳动力平均人数为 312195.6 人）AWs 环境温度与 OIs 之间的关系。检索了 2013 年至 2017 年的 OIs 数据和发生行政单位的每日天气数据。通过泊松回归模型，根据以下标准对每天的 OIs 风险进行分类：a）最小（Tmin）/最大（Tmax）空气温度；b）平均日温度（Tday）；c）日温度变化（TV）；d）相对湿度。通过相应的优势比（OR）计算每日 OIs 的风险。
OIs 的估计发病率为 66.3/1000 名工人年。在回归分析中，Tday 每增加 2.5%，OR 为 1.007（95%CI，1.003 至 1.010）。更准确地说，OIs 的风险更高与 Tmax > 25°C（OR 1.143，95%CI 1.125-1.160）和 Tmax > 25°C + Tmin > 20°C（OR 1.158，95%CI 1.138-1.179）有关，Tmin < 0°C 与风险显著降低相关（OR 0.879，95%CI 0.850-0.910），但年龄较大的组除外（OR 1.348，95%CI 1.254；1.449）。在 Tmax > 35°C （即 HW 时间段）的时间段内，第一天的风险更高（OR 1.266；95%CI 1.206-1.330），第四天及以后的风险再次增加（OR 1.090；95%CI 1.048 - 1.133）。TV 分析确定了在具有更高变异性的日子中职业伤害的风险增加，特别是在 TV 范围为 4.0-4.9（OR 1.042，95%CI 1.017-1.068）和等于或大于 5.0 时（OR 1.143，95%CI 1.118-1.167）。相对湿度增加也与 OIs 的风险增加有关（OR 1.096，95%CI 1.081-1.126，和 OR 1.154，95%CI 1.135-1.173，相对湿度为 70-89%，和≥90%）。
我们的研究结果建议政策制定者制定适当的程序和准则，特别是在 HW 时间段。
