In brief
- Studies have documented increased rates of death and illness during periods of only moderate heat, especially in places, like BC, that typically experience more temperate weather.
- Individuals who work in environments where they cannot control their exposure to high temperatures, including both those who work outdoors and those who work indoors in environments that are not climate-controlled, may be particularly susceptible to heat-related illness.
- We identified cases of heat-related illness occurring among workers age 15 and older from WorkSafeBC records of accepted lost-time claims and calculated incidence rates for heat-related illness by age, sex, occupation, and over time.
- We also examined associations between heatwaves and heat-related illness, with a focus on comparing risks during the unprecedented 2021 summer in BC and prior summers from 2001-2020.
- We found higher rates of illness among male workers, younger workers, and in primary industry, trades, and manufacturing.
- We found significant associations between heatwaves and heat-related illness, and heatwaves had a greater impact on risk among middle-aged workers and workers in trades and transport.
- The association between heatwaves and heat-related illness was greater during the summer of 2021 than in prior summers, and was stronger among younger workers and female workers.
- Understanding these differential impacts on worker groups by demographics and occupations is crucial for informing prevention strategies targeting at-risk workers in BC’s warming climate.
Related publications
Heat-related illness among workers in British Columbia, Canada: Extreme hot weather in 2021 compared to 2001-2020
Journal article
Guo X, Weinberger KR, Tamburic L, Peters CE, McLeod CB.
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2024 Jul 31:4179. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.4179. Online ahead of print.
Heat-related illness among workers in British Columbia, 2001-2020
Journal article
Weinberger KR, Tamburic L, Peters CE, McLeod CB.
J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Feb 1;65(2):e88-e92. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002761. Epub 2022 Nov 28.
Heat-related illness among workers in British Columbia
Research brief
Vancouver, BC: Partnership for Work, Health and Safety; 2022.
