The burden of occupational injury attributable to high temperatures in Australia, 2014–19: a retrospective observational study

• DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52171
• Publication Date: 2023-11-24T16:28:12Z
• Authors: Blesson M Varghese; Alana Hansen; Nick Mann; Jingwen Liu; Ying Zhang; Tim R Driscoll; Geoffrey G Morgan; Keith Dear; Anthony Capon; Michelle Gourley; Vanessa Prescott; Vergil Dolar; Peng Bi
• Keywords: Occupational injury; Attributable risk

Abstract Objectives To assess the population health impact of high temperatures on workplace and safety by estimating burden heat‐attributable occupational injury in Australia. Study design, setting Retrospective observational study; estimation Australia attributable to during 2014–19, based Safe Work (work‐related traumatic fatalities workers’ compensation databases) Australian Institute Health Welfare data (Australian Burden Disease National Hospital Morbidity databases), a meta‐analysis climate zone‐specific risk data. Main outcome measure injuries as disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs), comprising numbers lived with disability (YLDs) lost (YLLs), nationally, Köppen–Geiger zone, state territory. Results During an estimated 42 884 healthy were injury, 39 485 YLLs (92.1%) 3399 YLDs (7.9%), at rate 0.80 DALYs per 1000 workers year. A total 967 injury‐related heat (2.3% DALYs), 890 (92%) 77 (8%). By proportion was largest tropical Am (12 DALYs; 3.5%) Aw zones (34 3.5%); territory, New South Wales Queensland (each 2.9%), which also included (NSW: 379 DALYs, 39% national total; Queensland: 308 32%). Conclusion An 2.3% is ambient temperatures. prevent this increasing global warming, adaptive measures industry‐based policies are needed safeguard safety, particularly heat‐exposed industries, such agriculture, transport, construction.