Climate Change Hazards and Health Risks among Construction Workers: A Qualitative Study of Workplace Protective Strategies

Background Climate change increasingly threatens occupational health worldwide, with construction workers facing disproportionate risks due to prolonged outdoor exposure. While individual risk factors are well-documented, comprehensive workplace-level protective strategies integrating multi-stakeholder perspectives remain limited. This gap is particularly critical as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense globally. Objective To develop an integrated framework identifying climate change factors threatening construction workers' health, examine associated health impacts, and propose evidence-based workplace protective strategies from multi-stakeholder perspectives. Methods We conducted three focus group interviews with 23 construction sector experts (8 government officials, 15 industry health managers) with extensive experience in climate-related occupational health management. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using systematic thematic analysis following established qualitative frameworks to ensure methodological rigor. Results Analysis revealed four interconnected themes forming an integrated risk-protection framework: (1) primary climate hazards (heat waves, humidity, cold waves, fine particulate matter) with workplace-specific amplification effects; (2) cascading health impacts including direct physiological effects (heat stroke, respiratory dysfunction) and indirect consequences (increased accident rates, musculoskeletal disorders); (3) critical infrastructure barriers including inadequate rest facilities, insufficient budget allocation, and limited climate-specific awareness among managers; and (4) evidence-based protective strategies requiring policy integration: mandatory construction period extensions during extreme weather, targeted multi-level education programs, proactive health monitoring systems, and advanced protective technology development. Conclusions This study provides the first comprehensive multi-stakeholder framework integrating climate risks, health impacts, and protective strategies for construction workers. Our findings demonstrate that effective protection requires coordinated policy interventions, infrastructure investments, and technological innovations rather than isolated safety measures. The framework offers actionable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders globally, with particular relevance for rapidly developing economies facing similar climate challenges.