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Heat Exposure and Health Outcomes in Construction Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia1,2,3, Vijay Kumar Chattu4,5,6, Thankam S Sunil7
1Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
Environmental Health Insights
|March 16, 2026
Summary
Climate change significantly harms construction workers through heat exposure, causing dehydration and heat-related illnesses. Targeted interventions are crucial for this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Environmental health
- Climate change adaptation
Background:
- Climate change is increasing heat exposure risks for outdoor workers.
- Construction workers face significant health challenges due to heat stress.
- Adverse physical health outcomes and reduced workability are linked to heat exposure in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of physical health outcomes in construction workers exposed to heat.
- To analyze the association between heat exposure, health outcomes, and work performance, considering sex and age.
- To identify knowledge gaps for protecting construction workers from climate change impacts.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
- Searches conducted across major scientific databases (APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science).
- Inclusion of 17 studies, grouping outcomes into dehydration, heat-related illnesses (HRI), kidney function impairments, and heat-related deaths.
Main Results:
- Dehydration showed the highest single-study prevalence (0.97).
- Pooled prevalence for heat-related illnesses (HRI) was 0.40, with high heterogeneity (I² > 95%).
- Meta-regression indicated males reported lower heat disorder prevalence in mixed-sex studies (β = -2.09, P = .049).
Conclusions:
- Heat exposure poses significant physical health risks to construction workers, notably dehydration and HRI.
- Sex-responsive strategies and interventions are vital for mitigating heat's impact on this occupational group.
- Further research into psychological factors and effective interventions is needed to protect construction workers from climate change.
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