Classifying and mitigating occupational risks for public health inspectors in the context of the global climate crisis
Ioannis Pantelis Adamopoulos 1 2 3 * , Niki Fotios Syrou 4 , Demetris Lamnisos 5 , Antonios Valamontes 6 , John T. Karantonis 7 , Panagiotis Tsirkas 8 , George Dounias 1
More Detail
1 Department of Public Health Policy, Sector of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, GREECE2 Hellenic Republic, Region of Attica, Department of Environmental Hygiene and Sanitarian Public Health Inspections, Athens, GREECE3 Department of Public Health and Policies, School of Social Science, Hellenic Open University, Patra, GREECE4 Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, Trikala, GREECE5 Department of Health Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, CYPRUS6 Kapodistrian Academy of Science, Tampa, FL, USA7 Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA8 Department of Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Hatzikosta General District Hospital, Ioannina, GREECE* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The global climate crisis significantly impacts public health, requiring public health inspectors (PHIs) to manage evolving environmental, psychosocial, and organizational risks. This study examines PHIs’ roles in classifying and mitigating workplace hazards exacerbated by climate change, focusing on the challenges they face, the public health implications, and the necessity for effective interventions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative analysis of PHI-reported secondary data analysis with a scoping review of risk assessment frameworks studies from 2010 to 2025. Of the 185 PHIs surveyed, 87% (n = 161) reported feeling inadequately prepared to manage climate-related hazards. Additionally, 79.42% (n = 146) highlighted a lack of updated training as a critical barrier, and 78% (n = 144) cited insufficient resources as a major challenge. This study provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen public health policies, enhance occupational safety, and equip PHIs with the necessary tools to manage environmental challenges effectively and reduce occupational risks related to climate and public health infrastructure.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2026, Article No: em0336

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17273

Publication date: 01 Jan 2026

Online publication date: 14 Oct 2025

Article Views: 27

Article Downloads: 12

Open Access References How to cite this article