8292426 Heat stress in European agriculture – a growing challenge to worker health

<h3>Objective</h3> To examine the workplace practices and physiological workload of agricultural workers in Spain to guide future interventions to protect worker health. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Worker assessments were made across nine agricultural job tasks (seven outdoor and two indoor) in Spain. Preventative heat exposure strategies were documented through direct observation and photographs. Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Policies (KAPP) were assessed via worker questionnaires (n=56) and management interviews (n=12). Physiological workload was evaluated across job tasks (n=69) via continuous heart rate (HR) measurements across a work shift and used to calculate time in relative HR zones, estimated core temperature (ECTemp), and the proportion of the work shift spent at an ECTemp &gt;38 °C (above which heat strain is considered present). Local wet-bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) were recorded. <h3>Results</h3> KAPP assessments revealed strong organisational support for occupational safety and health, with documented heat stress prevention policies. However, critical gaps were identified between policy and implementation. Rest breaks (totalling 6%-to-15% of work shift), access to shade, hydration levels (estimated 2.3 ± 2.0 L/day), and solar radiation personal protective equipment (PPE) insufficiently protected workers from heat stress. Managers demonstrated good knowledge of heat-related health risks, while workers showed limited understanding but a willingness to adopt preventative measures. Workers spent most of their shift working at a light-moderate (37 ± 22% of their shift) to moderate (14 ± 20%) workload intensity while maximum ECTemp, on average, remained below 38 °C irrespective of the job task (37.6 ± 0.4 °C). However, several workers worked harder than the group average, spending prolonged periods at an ECTemp &gt;38 °C (i.e.,&gt;60% of their shift) and exposed to heat strain. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Improvements in the implementation of heat stress prevention strategies are needed to adequately protect all workers. Recommendations include improving hydration practices, enforcing mandatory rest schedules, and enhancing PPE standards and training.