Climate Change and Workers’ Health and Safety: An Umbrella Review
- 1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Abstract
Background:: This umbrella review synthesizes current evidence on the health and safety impacts of climate change among workers. In particular, it aims to identify the main workers’ categories at the highest risk, the main health and safety outcomes, methodological limitations, and future directions reported in the literature, as well as preventive strategies described in recent reviews.
Methods:: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Systematic and scoping reviews addressing climate-related occupational health and safety outcomes were included. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the ROBIS tool, and findings were synthesized in accordance with PRISMA and PRIOR guidelines.
Results:: Most of the available evidence concerns outdoor occupations, particularly agriculture and construction, where exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased risks of injuries and heat strain. Emerging data also highlight links with mental health, renal disease, and chronic conditions. However, the literature remains fragmented, with few meta-analyses and substantial heterogeneity. Preventive strategies have been proposed, but their implementation remains inconsistent.
Conclusions:: Evidence confirms that climate change has become a determinant of occupational health and safety. Future research should strengthen methodological coherence, adopt longitudinal approaches, and address vulnerable populations.
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BibTeX
@article{borghi2026climate,
title = {{Climate Change and Workers’ Health and Safety: An Umbrella Review}},
author = {Francesca Borghi and Lorenzo Ciaccio and Francesco Decataldo and Francesco Violante and Eva Negri},
journal = {La Medicina del Lavoro},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.23749/mdl.2026.18722},
url = {https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18722},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Climate Change and Workers’ Health and Safety: An Umbrella Review
AU - Francesca Borghi
AU - Lorenzo Ciaccio
AU - Francesco Decataldo
AU - Francesco Violante
AU - Eva Negri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - La Medicina del Lavoro
DO - 10.23749/mdl.2026.18722
UR - https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18722
AB - Background:: This umbrella review synthesizes current evidence on the health and safety impacts of climate change among workers. In particular, it aims to identify the main workers’ categories at the highest risk, the main health and safety outcomes, methodological limitations, and future directions reported in the literature, as well as preventive strategies described in recent reviews. Methods:: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Systematic and scoping reviews addressing climate-related occupational health and safety outcomes were included. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the ROBIS tool, and findings were synthesized in accordance with PRISMA and PRIOR guidelines. Results:: Most of the available evidence concerns outdoor occupations, particularly agriculture and construction, where exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased risks of injuries and heat strain. Emerging data also highlight links with mental health, renal disease, and chronic conditions. However, the literature remains fragmented, with few meta-analyses and substantial heterogeneity. Preventive strategies have been proposed, but their implementation remains inconsistent. Conclusions:: Evidence confirms that climate change has become a determinant of occupational health and safety. Future research should strengthen methodological coherence, adopt longitudinal approaches, and address vulnerable populations.
SN - 0025-7818
SN - 2532-1080
ER -