Injuries increase under the sun

Workplaces may not be well prepared to protect their employees against heat-related illnesses and injuries amidst rising Australian temperatures, according to new research from the University of Adelaide.

Researchers linked data from worker compensation claims with temperature records and found there was an association between hotter temperatures and an increase in injury claims. Since Australian average temperatures are being predicted to increase by 1–5°C by 2070, they suggest there is a need for an adaptable national policy.

“We looked at the worker compensation claims for those who commonly work outdoors, including construction workers, farmers, emergency services officers and utility employees,” said Professor Peng Bi, from the university’s School of Public Health.

“What we found was that once the mercury approached 37.7°C, there was a considerable increase in injuries recorded.

“We found that the types of injuries and illnesses that occurred on particularly hot days were also largely preventable and included incidents like falls, poisoning due to chemical exposure, occupational burns and heat stroke.”  

He said there are numerous measures that can be put in place to protect workers from heat-related injuries, including adjusting work hours, taking more breaks, providing good hydration and offering more flexible work arrangements.

“We know that many companies do have heat-exposure policies, but this research demonstrates a need for a better nationwide policy.”

The university also conducted a survey about workplace heat exposure of 180 Australian occupational health and safety (OH&S) specialists and found 90% were concerned about extreme heat and staff safety, while 19% suggested a need for improvement of current heat stress prevention measures in their own workplace.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/diego cervo

Source