As temperatures rise across Australia, our workplaces are becoming more dangerous

CHE RESEARCH BITES

By Andrew Ireland, David Johnston, and Rachel Knott

12 February, 2024

Global temperature increases are reshaping our work environments with profound implications. Our study shows the dangerous impact of these changes on workers’ health.

Workplace injuries increase markedly on hotter days. According to 35 years of Australian occupational health claims, a day with temperatures reaching 33 to 36 °C averages 5.3% more claims than when temperature remains between 18 and 21 °C.

The impact of high temperatures is not limited to heat stress and sunburn. They also lead to lacerations and other injuries resulting from reduced concentration. The risk of accidents caused by environmental agents, such as hazardous chemicals and substances, also increases on hot days.

Manual labourers in outdoor-based industries like agriculture and construction are especially vulnerable to these heat-related health hazards.

Some Victorian workplaces have implemented heat-related policies following extreme summer temperatures, such as stopping work early. Yet, despite attempts at policy interventions and adaptation mechanisms over the years, the harmful effects of heat on worker health have persisted and peaked between 2015 and 2020.

If current adaptation measures are maintained, a warming of Victoria's climate by 1.5 °C would result in an additional 156 occupational health claims for all workers per annum at a cost of AU$40.3 million for Victoria.

Safeguarding workers in the face of rising temperatures remains a pressing challenge to address. An effective heat policy should consider the hazards in workers’ environment as well as their physiological needs.

Find the original article here: Andrew Ireland, David Johnston, Rachel Knott, Heat and worker health, Journal of Health Economics, Volume 91, 2023, 102800, ISSN 0167-6296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102800.

See also: Feeling the heat: how our workplaces will become more dangerous and How rising temperatures impact our economic preferences.

Find out more about the Global and environmental health economics.

CHE Research Bites are short, easy-to-understand summaries of our recent academic papers highlighting new evidence and insights on topical issues in the health and healthcare sectors.

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