Heat stress intervention research in construction: gaps and recommendations

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Environmental Health
• Construction Management

Background:

• Heat stress poses significant risks to construction workers' health and safety.
• Previous research on heat stress interventions in construction lacks comprehensive methodology and practical application.
• There is a growing need for evidence-based strategies to mitigate heat-related illnesses in the construction industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing heat stress intervention research within the construction sector.
• To identify critical research gaps, particularly concerning methodological limitations.
• To propose a refined research framework for future heat stress intervention studies in construction.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review of 35 peer-reviewed journal papers on heat stress interventions for construction workers.
• Analysis of administrative, environmental, and personal engineering interventions.
• Identification of methodological shortcomings in sampling and instrumentation.

Main Results:

• Methodological limitations, including arbitrary sampling and unreliable instruments, hinder effective heat stress intervention research.
• Existing studies often lack a robust framework for practical implementation and evaluation.
• Significant research gaps exist in the development and validation of interventions.

Conclusions:

• Addressing methodological limitations is essential for advancing heat stress intervention research in construction.
• The proposed research framework offers a multidisciplinary approach to enhance intervention strategies.
• This framework can guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing effective heat stress management plans for construction workers.