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Cited by 259Thermoregulation and physiological responsesOccupational Health and Safety in WorkplacesAgriculture and Farm Safety

Characterizing occupational heat-related mortality in the United States, 2000–2010: An analysis using the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries database

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Gubernot, Diane M., Anderson, G. Brooke, Hunting, Katherine L.·2015·American Journal of Industrial Medicine
DOI 10.1002/ajim.22381PMC PMC4657558
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Abstract

Background: Occupational heat‐related mortality is not well studied and risk factors remain largely unknown. This paper describes the epidemiological characteristics of heat‐related deaths among workers in the US 2000–2010. Methods: Fatality data were obtained at the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the confidential on‐site Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries database. Fatality rates and risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated by year, sex, age group, ethnicity, race, state, and industry. Results: Between 2000 and 2010, 359 occupational heat‐related deaths were identified in the U.S., for a yearly average fatality rate of 0.22 per 1 million workers. Highest rates were found among Hispanics, men, the agriculture and construction industries, the state of Mississippi, and very small establishments. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive national profile of heat‐related deaths in the U.S. workplace. Prevention efforts should be directed at small businesses and at industries and individuals with the highest risk. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:203–211, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Crossref · 10.1002/ajim.22381

Cites

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  • Within the construction industry, roofers and road construction workers face a particularly high risk of HRIs.

    “within the industry, roofers and road construction workers face a particularly high risk of HRIs [3,4].”

    From Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review (2018) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Results (Mortality Rates by Industry and State; page not provided) identify construction as a high-risk industry for heat-related deaths. The paper does not identify roofers or road construction workers as particularly high-risk groups within construction; searches for both groups found no supporting passage. Its evidence also concerns fatalities, rather than HRIs generally. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • In the U.S., the construction industry accounted for 36.8% of the occupational heat-related mortality nationwide.

    “In the U.S., the construction industry accounted for 36.8% of the occupational heat-related mortality nationwide.”

    From Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review (2018) · cites this paper as [4]

    The Results section (Mortality Rates by Industry and State; page unavailable) identifies construction as a high-risk industry and says construction and agriculture together accounted for 207 of 359 deaths (58%). Our copy does not give construction’s share separately, so it does not verify the claimed 36.8%. (LLM, conf=0.79)

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  • Two large-scale epidemiological studies on heat-related illness and mortality (not included in the meta-analyses) reported that workplace environmental heat stress is responsible for 13-36 deaths per year in the USA alone.

    “Two large-scale epidemiological studies on heat-related illness and mortality (which were not included in our meta-analyses) reported that workplace environmental heat stress is responsible for 13-36 deaths per year in the USA alone. 113,120”

    From Workers' health and productivity under occupational heat strain: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as [120]

  • Construction workers in the U.S. are 13 times more likely to die from a heat-related illness compared to workers in other industries.

    “Previous studies have shown that construction workers in the U.S. are 13 times more likely to die from a heat-related illness (HRI) compared to workers in other industries”

    From Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review (2018) · cites this paper as [4]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Gordis L Epidemiology 2009 4th edition Philadelphia, PA Saunders Elsevier
  2. Rothman KJ Greenland S Modern epidemiology 2008 3rd edition Philadelphia, PA Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins

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Authors
Gubernot, D. M., Anderson, G. B., & Hunting, K. L.
Affiliations
  • George Washington University (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Gubernot, Diane M.
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2015-01-20
Volume
58
Issue
2
Pages
203-211
ISSN
  • 0271-3586 (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-0274
DOI
10.1002/ajim.22381
PMC
PMC4657558
OpenAlex
W2113906345
Cited by
259
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3
FWCI
7.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Industrial Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (K99ES022631-01)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture and Farm Safety
Keywords
heat-related mortality, occupational fatality, heat-related illness, small business, construction industry, Hispanic workers, sex differences, racial and ethnic disparities, fatality rate, heat illness prevention
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Ethnicity, Female, Hot Temperature, Humans, Industry, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Diseases, Sex Factors, United States, Odds Ratio, Databases, Factual, Occupational Exposure, Age Distribution, Heat Stress Disorders, Censuses, Young Adult

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