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Heatwave and work-related injuries and illnesses in Adelaide, Australia: a case-crossover analysis using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) as a universal heatwave index

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Abstract

Purpose

Heatwaves, or extended periods of extreme heat, are predicted to increase in frequency, intensity and duration with climate change, but their impact on occupational injury has not been extensively studied. We examined the relationship between heatwaves of varying severity and work-related injuries and illnesses. We used a newly proposed metric of heatwave severity, the Excess Heat Factor (EHF), which accounts for local climate characteristics and acclimatization and compared it with heatwaves defined by daily maximum temperature.

Methods

Work-related injuries and illnesses were identified from two administrative data sources: workers’ compensation claims and work-related ambulance call-outs for the years 2003–2013 in Adelaide, Australia. The EHF metrics were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. A time-stratified case-crossover regression model was used to examine associations between heatwaves of three levels of severity, workers’ compensation claims, and work-related ambulance call-outs.

Results

There was an increase in work-related ambulance call-outs and compensation claims during low and moderately severe heatwaves as defined using the EHF, and a non-significant decline during high-severity heatwaves. Positive associations were observed during moderate heatwaves in compensation claims made by new workers (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.10–1.55), workers in medium-sized enterprises (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01–1.30), indoor industries (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.17), males (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.23) and laborers (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.39).

Conclusions

Workers should adopt appropriate precautions during moderately severe heatwaves, when the risks of work-related injuries and illnesses are increased. Workplace policies and guidelines need to consider the health and safety of workers during heatwaves with relevant prevention and adaptation measures.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank SafeWork SA, SA Health and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for the provision of the workers’ compensation claims, work-related ambulance call-outs and meteorological data. Special thanks to Professor Adrian Barnett for advice on statistical analysis and Dr. Susan Williams for providing comments on the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Projects funding scheme (ARC Project ID DP160103059 to Dino Pisaniello). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Australian Government or Australian Research Council. B. M. V is supported by the University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Sciences Divisional Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Blesson M. Varghese, Alana Hansen, Scott Hanson-Easey, Peng Bi & Dino Pisaniello

  2. Public Health Services, Department for Health and Ageing, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Monika Nitschke

  3. Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    John Nairn

  4. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    John Nairn

Authors
  1. Blesson M. Varghese
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  2. Alana Hansen
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  3. Monika Nitschke
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  4. John Nairn
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  5. Scott Hanson-Easey
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  6. Peng Bi
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  7. Dino Pisaniello
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Correspondence to Dino Pisaniello.

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Ethics approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committees of the University of Adelaide and SA Health.

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Varghese, B.M., Hansen, A., Nitschke, M. et al. Heatwave and work-related injuries and illnesses in Adelaide, Australia: a case-crossover analysis using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) as a universal heatwave index. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 92, 263–272 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1376-6

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