The economic cost of severe heat $6.2billion yr - Australia

Some may wonder at why extreme heat could cause such a cost to the Australian economy, but it's something that will increasingly be an issue in the future as climate change increases temperatures. Not only in Australia where it's already an issue, but in countries overseas where heat likely wasn't an issue at all. 

It's also about the only language the Lieberals understand; economics. Which makes Abbott the economic guru label appear ever more ridiculous.

Heat stress costs the Australian economy a whopping US$6.2 billion a year – a finding that shows what other countries might be facing in areas where global warming will make extremely hot days more common.

Kerstin Zander from Charles Darwin University in Darwin, Australia, and colleagues surveyed 1726 employed people to map the impact of hot weather on the economy.

People reported taking an average of 4.4 days a year off work because of heat stress. And 70 percent of respondents said heat had made them less productive on at least one day in the past 12 months, with a third saying it often did so.

Delving deeper into the results, the team calculated that heat-related absenteeism was costing the country US$845 per head of population per year. The figure for loss of productivity at work was even higher at US$932.

Together, that amounts to roughly 0.4 per cent of Australia's GDP. That's greater than the cost for Australia to cut its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, estimated at as little as 0.1 or 0.2 percent of its GDP. more

I myself know all about heat stress at work. Very few print shops in Australia have air conditioning. The most you're likely to get is a fan blowing hot air, and when the temp gets to a certain heat the fanned hot air just makes you hotter. One place I worked at for years, the usual thing, tin roof factory. Hardly any ventilation. You leave the place in the afternoon finishing work at 3pm and the temp's about 35 degrees C. You come back in the morning at 7am after the place has been closed up all night and the temp is still 35 degrees. 

Most print shops are small to medium sized places and it's a cut throat business. It's high pressure on the machinery to produce the work as fast as possible. Usually union guidelines don't have much of an influence in such an environment where there's five customers all screaming for their products at once. Often the temp can go over 40 degrees with people still working. I remember a phonecall from another company taken by the factory manager about some job they were doing, and they said it was 45 degrees in the factory and they were still working. 

Generally though in my experience management understood the risks of working in such heat. Even not in a union shop. We'd just down tools and walk out the back for a while where it was a bit cooler. Stick your head under a tap, but it'd not take long for it to dry. 

To give an idea, these are some of the AMWU guidelines for working in extreme heat in Australia. They're not law, although the boss is required to provide a safe work place. I couldn't imagine working in heat like that now, especially after taking my HIV pills in the mornings. Heat stroke can become a very real issue for some.

“Heat policy should have already been negotiated in Health Agreements but even at workplaces without these there are basic guidelines to ensure no one suffers from dehydration or life-threatening heat stroke,” he said. 

Mr Fairley said a risk assessment should have been done in each area where members work, with the temperature taken in the hottest place. 

Rest breaks should be taken every hour in a cooled area, preferably air conditioned, where cool drinks are available. 

Victorian branch guidelines are for a 10-minute hourly break in temperatures 30-32C degrees, a 15-minute hourly break from 32-35C degrees, 30 minutes of every hour 35-38C degrees. When the temperature goes above 38 degrees work should cease until the temperature falls or employees should go home on full pay. 

“These are guidelines and in some cases employees may demand the right to cease work before temperatures hit 38C degrees or the old 100 Fahrenheit,” Mr Fairly said. more