Perkison WB, Schaefer CM, Green-McKenzie J, Roy RW, Shofer FS, McCarthy RB. Outcomes for a Heat Illness Prevention Program in Outdoor Workers: A 9-Year Overview.
J Occup Environ Med 2024;
66:293-297. [PMID:
38242542 DOI:
10.1097/jom.0000000000003051]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe the outcomes effect of removing the medical surveillance component from a heat illness prevention program (HIPP) for outdoor workers from a Central Texas municipality.
METHODS
Heat-related illness (HRI) frequency and workers' compensation (WC) cost were assessed retrospectively in a cohort of 329 workers from 2011-2019. During 2011-2017, the HIPP included training, acclimatization, and medical surveillance. In 2018-2019, a modified (mHIPP) was implemented that included training and acclimatization, but without medical surveillance.
RESULTS
The HRI rate during HIPP averaged 19.5 per 1000 workers during the first 4 years, dropped to 1.01 per 1,000 workers over the next 3 years, (2015-2017), and increased during mHIPP, to 7.6 per 1,000 workers.
DISCUSSION
Although the case increase during the mHIPP was small, medical surveillance may be an important component in lowering workforce HRI.
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