Heat‐Related Mortality in California Working‐Age Adults From 2014 to 2023
Olivia P. Stoddard, Kathryn Gibb, Ximena P. Vergara, Matt Frederick, Kathleen Fitzsimmons, Stella BeckmanABSTRACT
Background
Extreme heat events are increasing. Workers, especially those who perform physical activity or work outdoors, are at greater risk of heat‐related death than the general population. California has the largest workforce of any US state and a high proportion of workers at risk of heat‐related death. This study aimed to characterize heat‐related mortality among California workers by demographics and industry/occupation to inform prevention.
Methods
Heat‐related deaths among California residents likely to be in the workforce were analyzed from 2014 to 2023 using data from the Electronic Death Registration System. Cases included were those with a final or contributing cause of death coded as ICD‐10 codes X30 (exposure to excessive natural heat) or T67 (effects of heat and light). Denominators for rate calculations were derived from the American Community Survey 5‐year estimates.
Results
There were 334 heat‐related fatalities among working‐age California decedents from 2014 to 2023. Most decedents were male (81%) and non‐Hispanic White (42%) or Hispanic or Latino (42%). The overall mortality rate was 0.16 deaths per 100,000 workers per year. Among race/ethnicity groups, the heat‐related mortality rate was highest in the non‐Hispanic Black population (0.31). Individuals whose longest‐held occupation was in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, and Mining industry group had the highest rate (0.60), followed by Construction (0.53). Those working in primarily outdoors occupations had a mortality rate 5 times higher than those working primarily indoors. Riverside County had the highest number of deaths ( n = 104).
Discussion
Tailored heat prevention strategies should be prioritized in high‐risk industries, occupations, and regions to prevent fatalities among California workers.