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Cited by 126Thermoregulation and physiological responsesClimate Change and Health ImpactsOccupational Health and Global Justice

Mapping Occupational Heat Exposure and Effects in South-East Asia: Ongoing Time Trends 1980^|^ndash;2011 and Future Estimates to 2050

Open access
KJELLSTROM, Tord, LEMKE, Bruno, OTTO, Matthias·2013·Industrial Health
DOI 10.2486/indhealth.2012-0174
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Abstract

A feature of climate impacts on occupational health and safety are physiological limits to carrying out physical work at high heat exposure. Heat stress reduces a workers work capacity, leading to lower hourly labour productivity and economic output. We used existing weather station data and climate modeling grid cell data to describe heat conditions (calculated as Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, WBGT) in South-East Asia. During the hottest month in this region (March) afternoon WBGT levels are already high enough to cause major loss of hourly work capacity and by 2050 the situation will be extreme for many outdoor jobs.

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Crossref · 10.2486/indhealth.2012-0174

Cites

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  • Estimates from a number of Asian cities show that generally the afternoon WBGT values in the sun are 2-3 °C higher than the values in the shade.

    “Estimates from a number of Asian cities (Kjellstrom et al. 2013) show that generally the afternoon WBGT values in the sun are 2–3 °C higher than the values in the shade.”

    From Occupational heat stress assessment and protective strategies in the context of climate change (2018) · cites this paper as Kjellstrom et al. 2013

    The section “Difference between hourly WBGT levels in the shade (or indoors) and in the sun” compares afternoon estimates for four cities and reports an annual average difference of 2.6°C. It says monthly differences are mainly 2–4°C, however, rather than generally 2–3°C. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Moderate labor in the sun faces smaller losses (about 15%), and labor in the shade or indoors face even lower levels.

    “Moderate labor in the sun faces smaller losses (about 15%), and labor in the shade or indoors face even lower levels.”

    From Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts (2016) · cites this paper as [43]

    The ‘Maps of work capacity and labour productivity loss’ section reports less severe restrictions for moderate work than for heavy work and greater losses in the sun than in the shade or indoors. It does not support a general loss of about 15% for moderate work in the sun: in the hottest locations it reports up to 50% rest time in 1975 and more than 50% work time lost by 2050. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • A more recent study examined likely changes in work capacity for an average worker in Southeast Asia using the Wyndham productivity loss data.

    “A more recent study examined likely changes in work capacity for an average worker in Southeast Asia (43) using the Wyndham (88) productivity loss data.”

    From Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts (2016) · cites this paper as [43]

    The “Heat related loss of hourly work capacity and labour productivity” section says the authors used Wyndham’s productivity-loss data, and the “Maps of work capacity and labour productivity loss” section applies those relationships to projected conditions in South-East Asia through 2050. The paper models moderate and heavy work under specified heat and sun exposures, not an average worker representing the region. The supplied passages do not give page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Heavy labor in the sun is most affected and, in 2050, would face a 29% loss of annual work hours.

    “Heavy labor in the sun is most affected and, in 2050, would face a 29% loss of annual work hours.”

    From Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts (2016) · cites this paper as [43]

    The ‘Maps of work capacity and labour productivity loss’ section projects particularly severe losses for heavy work in the sun in 2050. But its figure concerns afternoon working hours in March, with losses up to 80% or more in the hottest locations; our copy does not give a 29% loss of annual work hours. (LLM, conf=0.89)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • WBGT levels in full sun during hot afternoons in tropical areas are approximately 2-3°C hotter than the in-shade values.

    “WBGT levels in full sun during hot afternoons in tropical areas are ∼2-3 • C (36-37 • F) hotter than the in-shade values (43).”

    From Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts (2016) · cites this paper as [43]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [1]1. Parsons K (2003) Human thermal environment. The effects of hot, moderate and cold temperatures on human health, comfort and performance. 2nd Ed. CRC Press, New York.
  2. [10]10. Ebi KL, Smith JB, Burton I Eds. (2005) Integration of public health with adaptation to climate change. Taylor & Francis, New York.
  3. [19]19. IPCC (2007) Fourth Assessment Report. Geneva, Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (http:www.ipcc.ch).
  4. [25]25. Lemke B, Kjellstrom T (2012) Calculating workplace WBGT from meteorological data for analysis of climate change impacts. Ind Health 50, 267-78. [Medline] [CrossRef]

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Authors
KJELLSTROM, T., LEMKE, B., & OTTO, M.
Affiliations
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NZ)
ORCID
KJELLSTROM, Tord
Venue
Industrial Health
Publisher
National Institute of Industrial Health
Published
2013
Volume
51
Issue
1
Pages
56-67
ISSN
  • 0019-8366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1880-8026
DOI
10.2486/indhealth.2012-0174
OpenAlex
W2078477567
Semantic Scholar
32b0b4dd371daeff633a015e9f66a3fe5efed597
Cited by
126
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 5
FWCI
8.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Industrial Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
European Commission (505539)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Climate Change and Health Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Health › Occupational Health and Global Justice
Keywords
occupational heat exposure, heat stress, wet bulb globe temperature, work capacity, labor productivity, climate change impacts, climate change projections, outdoor work, Southeast Asia, temporal trends
MeSH terms
Asia, Southeastern, Efficiency, Forecasting, Humans, Seasons, Occupational Exposure, Heat Stress Disorders, Climate Change

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