Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Interventions: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Gaps
Vidhya Venugopal, Perumal Kamalakkannan Latha, Rekha Shanmugam, Akshaya Prem Kumar, Gayathri KG, Maarthi Raja et al. · Journal of Occupational Health · 2026
Background: Rising temperatures are exacerbating occupational heat stress globally, disproportionately affecting workers in resource-constrained settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While prevention strategies have been evaluated, the evidence remains scattered, limiting its utility for policy and practice.
Objectives: This scoping review aimed to outline occupational heat-stress interventions, summarize current evidence, and identify gaps in feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and implementation across various work settings.
Methods: We conducted a search of Embase, PubMed, and Scopus until June 2025, adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies using Covidence. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis synthesized data regarding interventions, settings, outcomes, and implementation.
Results: Out of 1847 records, 90 studies were included: Work practice and administrative controls (6), wearable cooling (clothing and cooling garments) (34), active and passive cooling (31), rehydration (15), and engineering controls (4). Most studies (73%) were conducted in developed countries and controlled laboratory settings (68%), revealing a significant evidence gap in LMICs, the informal sector, and vulnerable populations. Studies primarily assessed immediate physiological outcomes rather than long-term health, productivity, or cost-effectiveness. Wearable monitoring and Health (Mobile health) emerged as promising areas for future evaluation.
Conclusion: This review reveals a significant evidence gap: most interventions are studied in laboratory environments, whereas field-based effectiveness data remain limited. Future research should prioritize intervention trials that employ participatory
methods, cost-effectiveness analyses of scalable solutions, and implementation studies that address barriers to field adoption. Translating laboratory
Findings: to field settings is urgently needed to protect vulnerable workers amid escalating climate change.