Evaluation of the Impact of Ambient Temperatures on Occupational Injuries in Spain

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp2590
• Publication Date: 2018-06-12T18:21:03Z
• Authors: Èrica Martínez-So...; María López-Ruiz; Gregory A. Wellenius; Antonio Gasparrini; Jordi Sunyer; Fernando G. Benav...; Xavier Basagaña
• Keywords: Attributable risk

Extreme cold and heat have been linked to an increased risk of occupational injuries. However, the evidence is still limited a small number studies people with relatively few injuries geographic extent, corresponding economic effect has not studied in detail. We assessed relationship between ambient temperatures Spain along its effect. The daily that caused at least one day leave maximum temperature were obtained for each Spanish province years 1994-2013. estimated temperature-injuries associations distributed lag nonlinear models, then pooled results using multivariate meta-regression model. calculated attributable heat, workdays lost, resulting study included 15,992,310 Overall, 2.72% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.44-2.97] all attributed nonoptimal temperatures, moderate accounting highest fraction. This finding corresponds 0.67 million (95% CI: 0.60-0.73) person-days work lost every year due temperature, or annual average 42 d per 1,000 workers. burden €370 million, 0.03% Spain's GDP (€2,015). Our findings suggest extreme injuries, substantial health costs. These call public interventions protect workers context climate change. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2590.