"New study finds heat and cold exposure costing Australian workforce $94 million annually", 27 May 2025

Exposure to heat and cold is costing Australian workers and employers an estimated $94 million a year, with heat-related occupational injuries and illnesses (OIIs) projected to rise more than 25% by 2050. ...

The study found 1.66% of all OIIs could be attributed to heat, representing nearly 39,000 preventable OIIs over the 13-year study period.

Causes included working in clothing not suited to the conditions, doing physically demanding tasks in unusually hot or cold conditions, and having limited access to cooling measures like air-conditioning. ... Postdoctoral Researcher, Dr. Matthew Borg said extreme temperatures were one of the most threatening health impacts of climate change. "Under a high-emissions scenario, heat-related OIIs are projected to increase from 1.66% to 2.10% by 2050, posing major risks to worker safety and productivity," Dr. Borg said. ...