title: Relationship between work-related accidents and hot weather conditions in Tuscany (central Italy).
abstract: Nowadays, no studies have been published on the relationship between meteorological conditions and work-related mortality and morbidity in Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hot weather conditions and hospital admissions due to work-related accidents in Tuscany (central Italy) over the period 1998-2003. Apparent temperature (AT) values were calculated to evaluate human weather discomfort due to hot conditions and then tested for work accident differences using non-parametric procedures. Present findings showed that hot weather conditions might represent a risk factor for work-related accidents in Italy during summer. In particular early warming days during June, characterized by heat discomfort, are less tolerated by workers than warming days of the following summer months. The peak of work-related accidents occurred on days characterized by high, but not extreme, thermal conditions. Workers maybe change their behaviour when heat stress increases, reducing risks by adopting preventive measures. Results suggested that days with an average daytime AT value ranged between 24.8 degrees C and 27.5 degrees C were at the highest risk of work-related accidents. In conclusion, present findings might represent the first step for the development of a watch/warning system for workers that might be used by employers for planning work activities.
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Centre of Bioclimatology, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crisci
authors.forename: Pietro Amedeo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orlandini
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000639:trends*; D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D014887:Weather