With warmer weather projections, workplace heat exposure is presenting a growing challenge
to workers’ health and safety. Occupational hygienists are the specialist group conducting
measurements and providing advice on heat stress management to industry. In
order to provide insights into hygienists perceptions on workplace heat exposure, current
and future preparedness for extreme heat, and barriers to possible heat adaptation strategies,
a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted during a national conference
of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists. Nearly 90% of the 180 respondents
were at least moderately concerned about extreme heat and 19% were dissatisfied with current
heat stress prevention measures. Barriers recognized by the participants were lack of
awareness (68%), insufficient training (56%), unsatisfactory management commitment
(52%), and low compliance with prevention policies (40%). The findings suggest a need to
refine occupational heat management and prevention strategies.