@article{ref1,
title="The heat death line: proposed heat index alert threshold for preventing heat-related fatalities in the civilian workforce",
journal="New solutions: a journal of environmental and occupational health policy",
year="2020",
author="Maung, Zaw and Tustin, Aaron W.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="A threshold Heat Index (HI) can serve as the basis for advising the civilian workforce about the risk of heat-related illnesses. We conducted a systematic review and compiled reports of work-related fatalities from heat-related illnesses. We calculated the HI for each fatality. Our objective was to expand upon the military's concept of a &quot;heat death line&quot; and identify an HI alert threshold for the civilian workforce. We identified 14 publications totaling 570 heat-related deaths. In the meta-analysis, the median HI was 101 with a range of 62 to 137. Almost all deaths (96 percent and 99 percent of civilian and military fatalities, respectively) occurred when HI ≥80, which is our proposed heat death line. Some existing HI-based heat advisories are set at a higher temperature value. However, many occupational heat-related illnesses occur below these thresholds, resulting in low sensitivity and a false sense of security. In at-risk outdoor industries, HI ≥80 should trigger hazard awareness and protective actions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1048-2911",
doi="10.1177/1048291120933819",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1048291120933819"
}