Author:
Weinberger Kate R.,Tamburic Lillian,Peters Cheryl E.,McLeod Christopher B.
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of heat-related illness among workers in British Columbia (BC), Canada, 2001–2020.
Methods
Cases of heat-related illness occurring among workers aged 15 years and older were identified from accepted lost-time claims from WorkSafeBC, the provincial workers’ compensation board. Incidence rates were calculated using monthly estimates of the working population from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey as the denominator.
Results
Between 2000 and 2020, there were 528 heat-related illness claims, corresponding to a rate of 1.21 (95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.31) claims per 100,000 workers. Eighty-four percent of claims occurred between June and August. Rates were higher among male workers, younger workers, and among those working in occupations related to primary industry; trades, transport, and equipment operators; and processing, manufacturing, and utilities.
Conclusions
In BC, lost-time claims for heat-related illness occurred disproportionately among certain subgroups of the workforce.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health