PloS one
Occupational health risks from climate-related and infectious-disease stressors: A scoping review of worker safety and resilience
By Odud MA and Abdul-Aziz OI.
Abstract
Objective
This scoping review examines how climate-related stressors and infectious-disease conditions, including pandemic-related workplace disruptions, interact to influence worker health, vulnerability, and occupational resilience. The review focuses on shared exposure pathways, vulnerable worker populations, methodological patterns, policy gaps, and strategies for strengthening worker safety under compound hazards. Rather than treating pandemics as isolated events, the review uses pandemic conditions as a lens to understand broader, recurring occupational risks and to inform strategies for building safer and more resilient workplaces under compound hazards.
Methods
Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language peer-reviewed and formally structured evidence sources published primarily between January 2020 and April 2025, with one pre-2020 policy study retained for foundational context. Out of 612 records initially identified, 10 studies or sources met the inclusion criteria across healthcare, agriculture, construction, emergency response, and other high-exposure sectors after systematic screening and eligibility assessment. Data were charted and synthesized by occupational sector, geographic region, exposure type, worker vulnerability, and methodological approach.