Publisher:
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE), Nürnberg
Abstract:
We study the effects of temperature on occupational health using administrative data on Swiss occupational accidents from 1996 to 2019. Our results imply that on hot days (Tmax Ï 30 degrees Celsius) the number of occupational accidents increases by 7.4% and on ice days (Tmax < 0 degrees Celsius) by 6.3%, relative to mild days. We find that extreme temperatures cause an average of 2,600 workplace accidents each year, accounting for 1% of annual accidents. We provide suggestive evidence for insufficient sleep on hot days as a mechanism. While extreme temperatures worsen occupational health, we observe limited labor supply adaption for most workers.