Surviving the sizzle: the effects of living and working under heat stress in the mining industry

Occupational heat exposure is a growing issue in Australia and worldwide. As ambient temperatures continue to increase, more workers are undertaking physically demanding tasks in hot environments. This thesis explored the impact of season on heat-related illnesses, cognitive function, thermal strain, and dehydration among mine industry workers in Australia. Collectively the findings from this thesis indicate there is need for further education regarding hydration, heat-related illnesses, and restbreaks within the mining industry to improve worker safety. The lack of legislation in Australia to protect workers exposed to the heat for extended work shifts needs to be addressed.