Occupational Hazards and Climate

Climate-related occupational hazards have historically received little attention. In 2009, NIOSH began work to address this gap and developed a framework to identify climate-related occupational hazards. Recently, NIOSH investigators published new work in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. Based on a review and assessment of the peer-reviewed literature from 2008–2014, the article updates the original framework and identifies key priorities in research, surveillance, risk assessment, and policy development. The updated framework identifies seven climate-related occupational hazards: Increased ambient temperatures Air pollution Ultraviolet radiation exposure Extreme weather Vector-borne diseases and expanded habitats Industrial transitions and emerging industries Changes in