Occupational Health and Climate

ChangesTeam Leader Dr A.MuosaMoH Expert Dr Fayez JaririMoH Expert Dr A.KhaderMoH Expert Dr M.ZogolExternal Expert Dr,Ali Hyari

Introduction Literature review show the experience of

other countries 1. In the region 2. international 3. At the national level in the other sectors.

Occupational Health It is defined as promotion and maintenance of

the highest degree of physical , mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations by preventing departures from health caused by their working conditions ; controlling risks and adaptation of work to people and people to their jobs (according to their physiological and psychological capabilities). (ILO)

Weather, Climate and Climate Variability Weather is the day to day changing atmospheric

conditions.Climate is the average state of the atmosphere and

the underlying land or water in a particular region over specified time-scale.

Climate is what you expect and weather is what you get.

Climate variability is the variation around the mean climate this includes seasonal variation and irregular events such as Elnino.(WHO climate changes and human health 2003)

Climate ChangesClimate changes results from both natural and human

processes. Emission of green house gases effect human health. It operates over decades or longer, Therefore human induced to the global climate system a set of atmospheric and surface variables such as temperature, precipitation wind , humidity , cloudiness, soil moisture sea surface temperature and the thickness of sea ice. The natural results from hurricanes , volcanoes etc

Climatologists use climatic normal as a basis for comparison for climate during the following decade.(WHO

climate change and human health 2003)

Heat Disorders Heat syncope Heat edema . Heat tetany. Heat cramps. Heat exhaustion . Heat stroke . Heat rash

Cold stress There are two types of effect, Local effect of cold , chilblains and frost bite, Systemic effect of cold, essential hypertension

and menstrual disorders. Cold precipitated disorders, cold urticaria and

Raynaud's phenomena.

The population of all countries exposed to increased health risk from the climate changes impact . The risk will be greater in low income countries because of the current burden of diseases, the health system is relatively weak, their socio-economic status will not help them to implement the adaptation measures to protect themselves and the accessibility to the health services is not adequate.

Annual Min. Max and General Average Air Temp. at Amman Civil Airport 2000 2009 Average Min. Temp 12.7 13 Average Max. Temp. 23.6 24.1 General Average 18.1 18.5

Population Population included in this assessment are out

door workers, construction , agricultural, the municipality workers and the surface miners workers, are the main workers who are suffering from climate changes because the nature of their work(under the sun). If the greenhouse gases emission still on the increase they are going to suffer from the thermal stress.

Objectives To introduce the concept of climate

changes. To raise level of awareness among the

indoor and out door workers about the health impact of climate changes.

To build a preventive strategy for climate changes impact as well as a curative.

To introduce the concept of C C in the national strategy of the occupational health.

Labor Force Construction workers 47618 Manufacturing workers 171777 Agricultural workers 89772

Source DOS 2009

When the temperature rises the wind velocity will decrease which in turn reflects the particulate movement so the workers exposed to heavier dose of particulates. There are certain liquids will ignite, the gases will suspended in the air . (moist skin is able to absorb more toxicant) Therefore recurrent exposure to the hazards will increase. The health of the workers deteriorate and their productivity will decrease.

On the other side if rain fall increases in intensity with decreased duration, the evaporation rate of water increases which will affect the crops production. Therefore the agricultural workers are the most affected people from both aspects , productivity and health.

The pesticides will move immediately to the soil, which will finally invade the food chain.

Work plan The team developed a very simple questionnaire, and

decided to enroll the highly exposed(out door workers) In Al Hassa area where the phosphate company is working. Other group will work on the municipality workers , construction workers (the team get the approval from the

Contractor association. Agricultural workers in Jordan valley. and all information will be given to the statistician to be

analyzed. To develop the adaptation plan accordingly .

The Questionnaire(Instrument of the study)

The questionnaire contains the following Age Duration of service Did you face any problem due to weather? Did you take any precaution due to

increase in temperature? Did you feel that your productivity

decreases during hot days? Did you stop working in hot days?

Completeness of the Instruments of study Face to face interview with out door

workers. and when possible to complete the simple questionnaire by themselves.

When possible to chick the records of the enrolled workers

Mapping of stakeholders Stakeholders that

should be partner is The ministry of labor and the institute of training on safety and occupational heath.

Stakeholders that should be consulted is the Universities and Royal scientific society

Mapping of stakeholders stakeholders that

should be informed periodically Social security corporation and Ministry of Agriculture. Water authority and Ministry of water

Stakeholders that should be involved within the team is The ministry of labor

Stakeholders For environmental measurement the institute of

safety and occupational health is substantial stakeholders

In a study conducted on40,913 Thai workers( The association between over health , psychological distress, and occupational heat stress) concluded that, the hot climate found to reduce productivity of workers .

This association between occupational heat stress and worse health, needs more public attention

Further development on occupational health interventions should be implemented as climate changes increases the Thailand temperature.

Experience from other countries

Climate Changes in Indonesia A recent study by a local research institute said

that 300,000 tones of crop production every year between 1992-2000.three times the annual loss in the previous decade.

Indonesia is a significant emitter of green house gases due to deforestation and it is a serious coal producer and user of in the region.

Climate Changes in Australia The best estimate of rainfall decrease is

7.5%.Under high emission scenario the best estimate of 10%.Evaporation rates are likely to increase. high-fire danger weather likely to increase, sea levels will continue to rise.

climate changes and occupational health Health out come

Occupational injuries , diseases loss of productivity.

machine

Personal hygiene

Decrease in water use

Contamination

Decrease air movement

Decrease precipitation

More arid land

Poor food

Malnourished worker

Water scarcity

Air pollution Rise in

temperature

Climate changes

Population growth

action

treatment

protection

prevention

The Results of Vulnerability.

After the questionnaire was entered in the EP info, the results are shown in the following slides

Table 1: shows the difference of all variables among workers the highest percentage seen among workers who consider the increase in temperature

Work Type

Heat increase as a Problem

PrecautionPrevious

SymptomsProductivity Reduce

Stop Working

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

construction 311 153 339 125 172 292 326 138 60 404

Farmers 276 38 243 71 181 132 288 26 243 71

M.Workers 1048 191 866 373 456 782 882 357 899 340

Total163

5382

1448

569 809120

6149

6521 1496 815

Percent % 81.118.9

71.8

28.2

40.1

59.8

74.2

25.8

59.6 40.4

Table 2 shows the number of the municipality workers who affected by increase in tem

Work Type

Heat increase as a Problem

PrecautionPrevious

SymptomsProductivity

ReduceStop Working

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

M.Workers 1048 191 866 373 456 782 882 357 899 340

Table three: shows the number of farmers who are affected by the increase in temperature starting by the loss of productivity

Work Type

Heat increase as a Problem

PrecautionPrevious

SymptomsProductivity

ReduceStop

Working

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

Farmer 276 38 243 71 181 132 288 26 243 71

Table 5: Shows the compares ion between the construction workers working in temperate climate and those working in hot, all the variables are higher among the workers in the hot climate than the temperate one

CONTRUCTION

Heat Increase is a problem

PrecautionPrevious

SymptomsProductivity

ReducedStop Working

YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

AMMAN 53.9%46.1%

74.5% 25.5% 33.3% 66.7% 57.8% 42.2% 42.2% 57.8%

HISSA 70.7%29.3%

72.7% 27.3% 38.1% 61.9% 73.8% 26.2% 75.0% 25.0%

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