RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Extreme heat and occupational heat illnesses in South Australia, 2001–2010
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 580
OP 586
DO 10.1136/oemed-2014-102706
VO 72
IS 8
A1 Xiang, Jianjun
A1 Hansen, Alana
A1 Pisaniello, Dino
A1 Bi, Peng
YR 2015
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/72/8/580.abstract
AB Objectives This study aims to examine the epidemiological characteristics of occupational heat illnesses in South Australia, to quantify the association between ambient temperature and occupational heat illnesses, and to investigate the impact of heatwaves on occupational heat illnesses.Methods Workers’ compensation claims data and weather data were obtained from SafeWork South Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology, respectively, for 2001–2010. Time series analysis with generalised estimation equation models and linear spline functions was used to quantify the temperature–heat illness claims association. A case-crossover design was applied to investigate the impact of heatwaves on occupational heat illnesses.Results There were 306 heat illness claims during the study period, with an incidence rate of 4.5 per 100 000 employees. The overall risk of occupational heat illness was positively associated with maximum temperature (Tmax), especially when Tmax was over the threshold of 35.5°C. One degree increase of Tmax was associated with a 12.7% (incidence rate ratio 1.127, 95% CI 1.067 to 1.190) increase of occupational heat illness claims. During heatwave periods, the risk of occupational heat illness was about 4–7 times higher than that of non-heatwave periods.Conclusions There is a need to develop or refine current heat-related regulations and guidelines to minimise the risk of occupational heat illnesses in vulnerable workers in a warming climate.