The University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6Y 1Z3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2024 Oct 1;50(7):545-554. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.4179. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
British Columbia (BC), Canada, experienced an unprecedented summer with record-breaking high temperatures in 2021. Yet the health impact has not been examined in occupational settings. This study aimed to characterize occupational heat-related illness (HRI) among BC workers estimated by incidence rates and associations between heatwaves and HRI, compare risks from 2021 and prior summers of 2001-2020, and assess differential impacts on worker groups by demographics and occupations.
We identified HRI from workers' compensation claims that occurred between June and August from 2001-2021 in BC. Incidence rates were calculated using working population estimates from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey. A time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional Poisson regression was used to examine the impact of heatwaves on occupational HRI. All analyses were stratified by year (2021 versus 2001-2020), age, sex, and occupation.
Of the 521 claims identified, 107 (21%) occurred in 2021. Incidence rates for 2021 and prior summers were 3.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.26-4.80] and 0.93 (95% CI 0.85-1.03) claims per 100 000 workers, respectively. This difference represents a 327% increase. Rates were higher in health occupations in 2021 versus 2001-2020. During 2001-2021, the risk of HRI during heatwave days was 4.33 (95% CI 2.98-6.27) times that during non-heatwave days, and the risk was higher among middle-aged workers and workers in trades, transport, and equipment operations. The 2021 heatwaves had greater impact on younger and female workers than those from prior summers.
Heat is a crucial workplace hazard. Prevention strategies should prioritize at-risk workers and not be limited to heatwaves.
加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC）在 2021 年经历了一个史无前例的夏季，高温破纪录。然而，其对职业环境的健康影响尚未得到研究。本研究旨在通过发病率特征化不列颠哥伦比亚省工人的与热相关的职业疾病（HRI），并比较 2021 年与 2001-2020 年夏季热浪与 HRI 之间的关联，评估人口统计学和职业因素对工人群体的差异影响。
我们从 2001-2021 年 6 月至 8 月期间不列颠哥伦比亚省工人赔偿索赔中确定了 HRI。发病率使用来自加拿大统计局劳动力调查的工作人口估计数计算。使用时间分层病例交叉设计和条件泊松回归来检查热浪对职业 HRI 的影响。所有分析均按年份（2021 年与 2001-2020 年）、年龄、性别和职业进行分层。
在确定的 521 项索赔中，有 107 项（21%）发生在 2021 年。2021 年和前几个夏季的发病率分别为 3.97[95%置信区间（CI）3.26-4.80]和 0.93（95%CI 0.85-1.03）每 100000 名工人中发生 1 例索赔。这一差异代表增加了 327%。2021 年，卫生职业的发病率高于 2001-2020 年。在 2001-2021 年期间，热浪期间 HRI 的风险是无热浪期间的 4.33（95%CI 2.98-6.27）倍，中年工人和从事贸易、运输和设备操作的工人的风险更高。与前几个夏季相比，2021 年的热浪对年轻女性工人的影响更大。
热是一个关键的工作场所危害。预防策略应优先考虑高危工人，而不仅仅是热浪。
