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Introduction: Hot workplace environments can lead to adverse health effects and contribute to a range of injuries. However, there is limited contextual understanding of heat-related injury occurrence. Gaining the perspectives of occupational health and safety professionals (HSPs) may elucidate the issue and inform targeted interventions., Methods: A cross-sectional national online survey was conducted in Australia to characterise HSP perceptions of heat-related injuries; current preventive measures; training, policies and guidelines; and perspectives on barriers for prevention. Results were analysed descriptively and a log-Poisson regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with HSP reported injury occurrence, assessed through prevalence ratio (PR)., Results: Of the 307 HSP survey participants, 74% acknowledged the potential for increased risk of occupational injuries in hot weather. A variety of injury types and mechanisms were reported, including manual handling injuries, hand injuries, wounds or lacerations, and loss of control of power tools. Correlates of reported heat-related injuries included working in the sun without shade [PR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07-1.48] and too few rest breaks [PR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.44]. Other factors of significance were inadequate hydration; issues with personal protective equipment (PPE) and poor supervision of workers. Only 42% reported that adequate heat training was available and 54% reported the provision for outdoor work to cease in extreme temperatures. It was acknowledged that the frequency of injuries could be reduced with wider adoption of self-pacing, and work/rest regimes. Perceived barriers for prevention included: lack of awareness of physical injury risks, and management concerns about productivity loss and/or deadlines., Conclusion: The findings indicate a range of potentially modifiable work and organisational risk factors such as more suitable PPE and better supervision. More attention to these factors, in conjunction with traditional interventions to reduce heat effects, could enhance injury prevention and labour productivity in people working in hot environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

• Work-injury risk increases in hot weather and risk factors require investigation. • We examined stakeholder perspectives to identify work-injury risks in hot weather. • A survey of health and safety representatives examined heat risks and outcomes. • A range of modifiable work and organisational risk factors were identified. • Preventive efforts should encompass heat-related physical injuries as well as illness. Hot weather poses occupational health and safety concerns for people working in hot environments. It is known that work-related injuries increase during hot weather, yet there is an incomplete understanding of the underlying factors. A national online survey was conducted in Australia among health and safety representatives (HSRs) to better understand factors contributing to heat-related injuries in workplaces. Risk factors and preventive measures associated with reported injuries were identified using log-poisson regression models. In total, 222 HSRs completed the survey. Overall, 43% reported that injuries or incidents caused by hot/very humid weather occur sometimes or often in their workplace. Factors found to be associated with reported heat-related injuries included 'the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE)' which can hinder the loss of body heat, and 'inadequate resources and facilities'. 'Piece-rate workers' and 'new workers' were identified as being at high risk. The most frequently adopted preventive measures for outdoor and indoor workers were the provision of PPE (despite some identified issues) and access to cool drinking water. HSRs reported that less injuries occurred in hot weather among outdoor workers if work was rescheduled to cooler times and shade was provided; and in indoor environments where there was adequate ventilation, heat sources were shielded and workers were able to self-pace. Organisational issues, workplace hazards, personal factors and preventive measures, are all determinants of heat-related injuries in Australian workplaces. Wider adoption of identified prevention measures could reduce the incidence of heat-related injuries in outdoor and indoor workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal working environment can have direct and in-direct effects on health and safety. Ambient temperatures have been associated with an increased risk of occupational injuries but it is unknown how the relationship can vary by weather, location and climate. To examine the relationship between ambient temperatures and work-related injury and illness compensation claims in three Australian cities: Melbourne and Perth (temperate climate) and Brisbane (subtropical climate) in order to determine how hot and cold weather influences the risk of occupational injury in Australia. Workers' compensation claims from each city for the period 2005 to 2016 were merged with local daily weather data. A time-stratified case-crossover design combined with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to quantify the impacts of daily maximum temperature (T max) on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses. Compared to the median maximum temperature (T max), extremely hot temperatures (99th percentile) were associated with a 14% (95%CI: 3–25%) increase in total workers' compensation claims in Melbourne, but there were no observed effects in Brisbane or Perth, with the exception of traumatic injuries that increased by 17% (95%CI: 3–35%) during extreme heat in Perth. For extremely low temperatures (1st percentile), there was a protective effect in Brisbane (RR 0.89; 95%CI: 0.81–0.98), while no effects were observed in Melbourne or Perth. The relationship between injury and ambient temperature appears to be variable depending on location and climate. In general, work-related injuries and illnesses appear to be more common at higher temperatures than lower temperatures. Adopting adaptation and prevention measures could reduce the social and economic burden of injury, and formulating effective measures for dealing with high temperatures should be prioritised given the predicted increase in the frequency and intensity of hot weather. Unlabelled Image • The association of ambient temperatures with workers compensation claims was quantified in three Australian cities • Relationships between temperature and work-related injuries and illnesses varied by location and climate • Cooler day time maximum temperatures were associated with reduced risks to workers in all three cities • The avoidable burden of temperature was higher in sub-tropical Brisbane than in temperate Melbourne and Perth [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The thermal environment can directly affect workers' occupational health and safety, and act as a contributing factor to injury or illness. However, the literature addressing risks posed by varying temperatures on work-related injuries and illnesses is limited. Objectives To examine the occupational injury and illness risk profiles for hot and cold conditions. Methods Daily numbers of workers' compensation claims in Adelaide, South Australia from 2003 to 2013 (n = 224,631) were sourced together with daily weather data. The impacts of maximum daily temperature on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses was assessed using a time-stratified case-crossover study design combined with a distributed lag non-linear model. Results The minimum number of workers' compensation claims occurred when the maximum daily temperature was 25 °C. Compared with this optimal temperature, extremely hot temperatures (99th percentile) were associated with an increase in overall claims (RR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.18–1.44) whereas a non-significant increase was observed with extremely cold temperatures (1st percentile, RR: 1.10 (95%CI: 0.99–1.21). Heat exposure had an acute effect on workers' injuries whereas cold conditions resulted in delayed effects. Moderate temperatures were associated with a greater injury burden than extreme temperatures. Conclusion Days of very high temperatures were associated with the greatest risks of occupational injuries; whereas moderate temperatures, which occur more commonly, have the greatest burden. These findings suggest that the broader range of thermal conditions should be considered in workplace injury and illness prevention strategies. Highlights • We examined the impact of ambient temperatures on work-related injuries and illnesses and quantified the associated burden. • Temperatures above and below the optimum of 25oC increased the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses. • Vulnerable groups varied according to occupation and work environments. • Moderate temperature ranges had the greatest burden yet the greatest risk was observed at extreme temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]