Assessment of the impact of hot weather conditions on the respiratory health, level of fatigue, and injuries of construction workforce

Abstract

Construction workers engage in physically strenuous tasks while being exposed to adverse environments, rendering them susceptible to a multitude of health complications and safety risks. The effect of hot weather on the exposed individuals varies based on several demographic attributes. This study aims to examine the influence of hot temperatures on respiratory health, fatigue and workplace injuries based on socio-demographic attributes for construction workforce active in hot weather conditions. Therefore, to achieve the objectives of this study, a cross-sectional study design was adopted, where a comprehensive survey was designed and disseminated to workers in construction industry across the United States. The study adopted logistic regression method to develop separate models for workers’ respiratory health, fatigue, and injuries, to examine the relationship between these challenges and the socio-demographics. The results of the regression analysis revealed that, workers above 50 years of age had higher odds of experiencing workplace injuries, respiratory health problems, and physical fatigue than workers below 50 years of age. The odds of experiencing respiratory problems is higher in male construction workers than female construction workers. Also, construction workers involved in commercial and infrastructure project types had higher odds of experiencing injuries in workplace compared to workers involved in residential project types. The outcomes of this research can aid policy makers and employers in construction industry to identify the workers at risk. The findings can also be used to develop strategies and training to reduce workplace injuries for construction workers active in hot weather conditions.