Assessing and controlling work in hot environments

Session information

The course will be set out in two parts. The first will be a brief basic familiarisation to heat stress, terms, monitoring instruments and key measurement parameters. This will be followed by a review of aspects of the worker and work environment that can contribute to increased risk and touch on the impact of heat on chronic illness.

The second section will work through assessments of the work environment utilising basic assessment tools such as checklists and mobile applications that can be used by participants for initial assessment and also as training resources for employees. This will be followed up with more advanced use of indices and physiological monitoring applications. The session will work through heat stress scenarios utilising these tools to assess physical and/or environmental parameters and provide some recommended control options.

Learning Objectives

This session will add to the participants knowledge of the: 

1. Impact of heat on the workforce, both acute and chronic
2. Contributing factors and conditions to increased risk
3. Role of pre-employment medicals and contraindications
4. Heat stress indices and their role in heat stress assessment
5. The three-stage assessment protocol
   1. Conducting and/or facilitating a first level thermal risk assessment
   2. The use of a second level quantitative rational index to analyze the environmental and physical parameters of a scenario.
   3. The applicability and role of physiological monitoring
6. Controlling and mitigating exposure
7. Application of methods available to measure, assess and mitigate heat stress in the work environment (via a series of case studies)

Session Presenter

Dr Ross Di Corleto PHD, COH, FAIOH

Dr Ross Di Corleto has been involved in occupational health & safety and occupational hygiene for over 35 years with experience in the power industry, mining and refining in Australia and internationally. He has a PhD in occupational health and a Master of Science by research in heat stress and is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and Griffith University. 

He is a certified occupational hygienist, a Fellow & Past President of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists and the current President-Elect. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety. One of Ross’ areas of particular interest includes heat stress and the thermal environment, and he has authored a number of papers & reference documents in the area. Ross is currently the Principal Consultant and Director of Monitor Consulting Services based in Brisbane, Australia.

Session Recording

Contact

Please contact Samira Wadhavkar, AIOH Conference and Events Manager if further information is required, 0488 733 814 | Conference@aioh.org.au