Examining Management and Employees' Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study

Authors

Muinat Abolore Idris
Christine Markham
Kristina D Mena
William B Perkison

Publication Date

9-21-2024

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Numerous risk factors have been identified as significantly influencing outdoor workers' risk for heat stress and heat-related conditions, impacting their health, well-being, and productivity. However, the specific effects of these factors on construction workers' safety, health, and well-being remain under-researched. With climate change increasing temperatures, assessing heat stress among construction workers is imperative.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the barriers and facilitators influencing the safety of natural gas construction workers and evaluate an implemented heat stress intervention.

METHODS: In the summer of 2023, two semi-structured interviews and six focus groups were conducted with twenty-one stakeholders at a Texas natural gas construction site.

RESULTS: Key facilitators include employee preparedness, use of employer-provided resources, hydration logs, and real-time communication tools. Contrarily, the barriers include daily work schedules, access to dehydrating beverages, and generational differences with the non-implementation of mandatory rest breaks. The heat stress program was perceived as effective, surpassing recommended guidelines.

CONCLUSION: To advance construction workers' safety, health, and well-being, both employee involvement and employer management are needed, along with no-cost accessible resources. Additionally, implementing a required routine rest break and comprehensive heat stress education, particularly for older workers, will significantly promote safety and safe work practices in hot environments. Note: in this study, the terms 'worker' and 'employee' are used interchangeably.

Keywords

Humans, Construction Industry, Heat Stress Disorders, Occupational Exposure, Natural Gas, Texas, Adult, Hot Temperature, Occupational Health, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Qualitative Research

DOI

10.3390/ijerph21091255

PMID

39338139

PMCID

PMC11432089

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

9-21-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes