title: Effect of summer outdoor temperatures on work-related injuries in Quebec (Canada).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the associations between occupational injury compensations and exposure to summer outdoor temperatures in Quebec (Canada).
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship between 374,078 injuries compensated by the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) (between May and September, 2003-2010) and maximum daily outdoor temperatures was modelled using generalised linear models with negative binomial distributions. Pooled effect sizes for all 16 health regions of Quebec were estimated with random-effect models for meta-analyses for all compensations and by sex, age group, mechanism of injury, industrial sector and occupations (manual vs other) within each sector. Time lags and cumulative effect of temperatures were also explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relationship between daily counts of compensations and maximum daily temperatures reached statistical significance for three health regions. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of daily compensations per 1°C increase was 1.002 (95% CI 1.002 to 1.003) for all health regions combined. Statistically significant positive associations were observed for men, workers aged less than 45 years, various industrial sectors with both indoor and outdoor activities, and for slips/trips/falls, contact with object/equipment and exposure to harmful substances/environment. Manual occupations were not systematically at higher risk than non-manual and mixed ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to quantify the association between work-related injury compensations and exposure to summer temperatures according to physical demands of the occupation and this warrants further investigations. In the context of global warming, results can be used to estimate future impacts of summer outdoor temperatures on workers, as well as to plan preventive interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adam-Poupart
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smargiassi
authors.affiliation: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc-Antoine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Busque
authors.affiliation: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duguay
authors.affiliation: Direction de santé publique, Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labrèche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations; D011792:Quebec; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014937:Work; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult