title: Extreme heat and occupational heat illnesses in South Australia, 2001-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Department of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Fujian Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pisaniello
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002980:Climate; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D055874:Extreme Heat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D057232:Global Warming; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Occupational heat illness; compensation claim; heat stress; heat-related injury