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Impacts of Climate Change on Work Health and Safety in Australia: A Scoping Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Lucia Wuersch

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia)

  • Alain Neher

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia)

  • Frank E. Marino

    (Research Group for Human Adaptation, Exercise & Health, School of Allied Health, Exercise & Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia)

  • Larissa Bamberry

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia)

  • Rodney Pope

    (School of Allied Health, Exercise & Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia)

Abstract

This scoping review explores the extant literature on climate change impacts on Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) in Australia. It maps the coverage of climate hazards, occupations at risk, and health and socio-economic impacts with the aim of identifying climate change impacts on WHS in Australia and associated knowledge gaps. We used a scoping review approach to identify and investigate 41 scholarly works at the nexus between climate change and WHS in Australia. Thematic template analysis and the NVivo software helped us identify and structure the main themes and systematically document the analysis process. The review highlighted a research focus on the impacts on WHS of heat and extreme weather events resulting from climate change. Agriculture and construction emerged as the most examined occupations, emphasising climate-related diseases and productivity loss. Other climate-related hazards, occupations, and health and socio-economic impacts were largely overlooked in the included research literature. The analysis revealed there is scope for further research relating to climate change impacts on occupational hazards (e.g., air pollution), occupations (e.g., indoor settings at risk), worker health (e.g., injuries), and socio-economic impacts (e.g., change in social practice). Furthermore, the results highlight that the main themes (hazards, occupations, health, and productivity) are interconnected, and the impacts of climate change can be ‘cascading’, adding complexity and severity. Hence, it is important to look at WHS as a multifaceted phenomenon in a holistic way to understand the risks and support required.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucia Wuersch & Alain Neher & Frank E. Marino & Larissa Bamberry & Rodney Pope, 2023. "Impacts of Climate Change on Work Health and Safety in Australia: A Scoping Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-35, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:21:p:7004-:d:1271889
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kerstin K. Zander & Supriya Mathew & Stephen T. Garnett, 2018. "Exploring Heat Stress Relief Measures among the Australian Labour Force," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Alana Hansen & Dino Pisaniello & Blesson Varghese & Shelley Rowett & Scott Hanson-Easey & Peng Bi & Monika Nitschke, 2018. "What Can We Learn about Workplace Heat Stress Management from a Safety Regulator Complaints Database?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Ed Day & Sam Fankhauser & Nick Kingsmill & Hélia Costa & Anna Mavrogianni, 2019. "Upholding labour productivity under climate change: an assessment of adaptation options," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 367-385, March.
    4. Andrew P. Hunt & Matt Brearley & Andrew Hall & Rodney Pope, 2023. "Climate Change Effects on the Predicted Heat Strain and Labour Capacity of Outdoor Workers in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-12, April.
    5. Haruna M. Moda & Walter Leal Filho & Aprajita Minhas, 2019. "Impacts of Climate Change on Outdoor Workers and Their Safety: Some Research Priorities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Kerstin K. Zander & Wouter J. W. Botzen & Elspeth Oppermann & Tord Kjellstrom & Stephen T. Garnett, 2015. "Heat stress causes substantial labour productivity loss in Australia," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 647-651, July.
    7. Simon J. Evenett, 2022. "What Endgame for the Deglobalisation Narrative?," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 57(6), pages 345-351, November.
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