Occupational Health Impacts of Climate Change: Current and Future ISO Standards for the Assessment of Heat Stress
Open accessAbstract
The current system of International Standards (ISO) is assessed to consider whether standards are fit for purpose for the future in the context of climate change. ISO 7243, ISO 7933 and ISO 9886 provide the current ISO system for the assessment of heat stress. These involve a simple monitoring index, an analytical approach and physiological monitoring, respectively. The system relies on accurate measurement of the thermal conditions experienced by the worker (ISO 7726); and estimations of metabolic heat production due to work (ISO 8996) and the thermal properties of clothing (ISO 9920). As well as standards for heat stress assessment, the full range of ISO standards and the physical environment is listed as well as current work and proposed standards. A particular 'gap' in anticipating requirements for ISO standards in the future is the link between meteorological data and ISO standards. This is important for predicting the global consequences of a changing climate and anticipating potential impacts on occupational health across countries and cultures.
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WBGT applies to the evaluation of the mean effect of heat on humans during an eight-hour work day and during an hourly work period in determining work rest cycles.
“It applies to the evaluation of the mean effect of heat on humans during an eight-hour work day and during an hourly work period in determining work rest cycles, and the WBGT reference values do not apply to the evaluation of heat stress suffered during very short periods (Parsons 2013).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
The Description of the standard says WBGT is time-weighted over a one-hour work/rest period, and the discussion of allowable exposure duration says these standards are not valid for short exposures. Our copy does not specify an eight-hour workday as a WBGT evaluation period; its reference to a 4–8-hour exposure concerns the separate predicted heat strain method. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredWBGT reference values do not apply to the evaluation of heat stress suffered during very short periods.
“and the WBGT reference values do not apply to the evaluation of heat stress suffered during very short periods (Parsons 2013).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
The 'Description of the standard' section says that time-varying WBGT is averaged over a one-hour work/rest period before comparison with a reference value. That supports a limitation on assessing brief exposures, but the paper does not explicitly say that the reference values do not apply to very short periods. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe use of meteorological data for occupational heat stress assessment is limited because weather stations do not traditionally and directly measure some important climate factors, e.g. solar radiation.
“However, the use of meteorological data for occupational heat stress assessment is limited because weather stations do not traditionally and directly measure some important climate factors, e.g. solar radiation.”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
The Future models section says current meteorological data are inadequate in terms of radiation and are collected away from workplaces, supporting the stated limitation for occupational assessment. It does not say that weather stations traditionally do not measure solar radiation directly; that specific explanation is not established by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe WBGT index can function as a screening tool for the assessment of heat stress.
“The WBGT index can function as a screening tool for the assessment of heat stress (Parsons 2013; Epstein and Moran 2006).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
According to ISO 7243, certain types of measurement devices (e.g. a 150 mm black globe) should be used for WBGT measurement.
“According to the standard specifications (ISO 7243), certain types of measurement devices (e.g. a 150 mm black globe) should be used (Parsons 2013; Havenith and Fiala 2016).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
With climate change, occupational heat stress assessment using WBGT will be an important first line of defence in the avoidance of heat casualties.
“With climate change, occupational heat stress assessment using WBGT will be an important first line of defence in the avoidance of heat casualties (Parsons 2013), although the WBGT is limited in its applicability across a broad range of climatic scenarios due to the inconvenience of measuring Tg (Blazejczyk et al. 2012).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
Neither the WBGT nor the PHS methods are valid for the assessment of rapidly changing environments and short exposure durations.
“Neither the WBGT nor the PHS methods are valid for the assessment of rapidly changing environments and short exposure durations (Parsons 2013).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
Currently the PHS method may be considered the most developed analytical method for predicting potential health problems for individuals due to work in the heat.
“Currently the PHS method may be considered the most developed analytical method for predicting potential health problems for individuals due to work in the heat (Parsons 2013).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
Current meteorological data are more adequate for the assessment of the impact of climate on population health, but less adequate for occupational health.
“Current meteorological data are more adequate for the assessment of the impact of climate on population health, but less adequate for occupational health (Parsons 2013).”
From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Parsons 2013
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- Authors
- PARSONS, K.
- Affiliations
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- PARSONS, Ken
- Venue
- Industrial Health
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 86-100
- ISSN
- 0019-8366 (ISSN-L)
- 1880-8026
- OpenAlex
- W1974408237
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 4.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Social Sciences › Health › Occupational Health and Global Justice
- Keywords
- heat stress, occupational health, climate change, ISO standards, ISO 7933, thermal comfort, metabolic heat production, clothing thermal properties, physiological monitoring, meteorological observations, standardization gaps
- MeSH terms
- Clothing, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Ergonomics, Meteorological Concepts, Monitoring, Physiologic, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Exposure, Heat Stress Disorders, Climate Change
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