PreprintArticleVersion 1This version is not peer-reviewed
Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study
Version 1
: Received: 19 August 2024 / Approved: 19 August 2024 / Online: 20 August 2024 (09:05:55 CEST)
How to cite:
Idris, M. A.; Markham, C.; Mena, K. D.; Perkison, W. B. Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study. Preprints2024, 2024081410. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1410.v1
Idris, M. A.; Markham, C.; Mena, K. D.; Perkison, W. B. Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study. Preprints 2024, 2024081410. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1410.v1
Idris, M. A.; Markham, C.; Mena, K. D.; Perkison, W. B. Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study. Preprints2024, 2024081410. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1410.v1
APA Style
Idris, M. A., Markham, C., Mena, K. D., & Perkison, W. B. (2024). Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1410.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Idris, M. A., Kristina D. Mena and William B. Perkison. 2024 "Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Workers: A Qualitative Field-Based Study" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.1410.v1
Abstract
Background: Numerous risk factors have been recognized as significant contributors to outdoor workers' heat stress and the risk of heat-related conditions, impacting their health, well-being, and productivity. However, the specific effects of these factors on construction workers' safety, health, and well-being remain under-researched. With climate change increasing temperatures, assessing heat stress among construction workers is imperative. Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators influencing the safety of natural gas construction workers and evaluate an implemented heat stress intervention. Methods: In the summer of 2023, two semi-structured interviews and six focus groups were conducted with twenty-one stakeholders at a Texas natural gas construction site. Results: Key facilitators include employee preparedness, use of employer-provided resources, hydration logs, and real-time communication tools. Contrarily, the barriers include daily work schedules, access to dehydrating beverages, and generational differences with the non-implementation of mandatory rest breaks. The heat stress program was perceived as effective, surpassing recommended guidelines. Conclusion: To advance construction workers’ safety, health, and well-being, both employee involvement and employer management are needed, along with no-cost accessible resources. Additionally, implementing a required routine rest break and comprehensive heat stress education, particularly for older workers, will significantly promote safety and safe work practices in hot environments.
Keywords
Heat stress; Construction workers; Heat stress prevention program; Heat-related conditions; Worker safety; Well-being; Facilitators; Barriers. In this study, the terms ‘worker’ and ‘employee’ are used interchangeably.
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
