Health and safety risk management in a changing climate: Contrasting supervisors and workers perceptions and approaches to heat coping strategies on construction sites

Global temperature increases and more frequent and severe heat waves pose a substantial heat strain risk to construction workers' health, safety and wellbeing, which could lead to physiological and psychological health conditions. Heat coping guidelines have been defined by occupational regulators; however, they are non-enforceable, not industry specific and informal. Thus, the implementation of heat coping strategies is subject to the employers and workers' awareness and motivation. Studies on heat coping strategies and awareness levels amongst UK construction organisations are limited. This study investigated how construction organisations are adapting to climate change by gathering quantitative data on the heat-related risks perception and adopted heat coping strategies among 50 construction site personnel in five construction sites in the UK. Results showed contrasting understanding of heat-related risks and adopted heat management approaches among supervisors and workers. This exploratory research identified a knowledge gap and highlighted the need to raise awareness of the impact of heat stress on UK construction site personnel to ensure that heat-related health symptoms are identified in time, and heat coping measures are appropriately being implemented.