Measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and apply action levels to control heat stress in outdoor work.
Occupational Health & Safety
Adapting Worker Health Protection to Climate Change and Extreme Weather
Learn to assess heat, cold and extreme weather risks using WBGT and air quality data, and to build work-rest, response and adaptation plans that protect outdoor workers.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
Heatwaves, wildfire smoke episodes and severe storms are increasingly disrupting outdoor and non-air-conditioned work, yet many occupational health programmes still treat extreme weather as an occasional exception rather than a recurring operational risk. This course gives participants the technical grounding and practical tools to manage climate-driven health hazards as a standing part of the safety management system. Participants learn to measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and apply action levels that trigger work-rest cycles, interpret air quality indices to set safe thresholds during wildfire smoke episodes, and design heat acclimatisation plans for new and returning workers. The course also covers cold stress assessment for outdoor and refrigerated work, and the emergency planning needed for storms, floods and rapidly developing severe weather, including shutdown triggers and communication with dispersed workers. The final modules address the longer view: integrating climate forecasting into workforce planning, prioritising infrastructure investment at sites facing rising exposure, and updating policies and training on a seasonal cycle rather than after an incident. Teaching combines WBGT measurement exercises, scenario-based emergency response planning and case data drawn from real seasonal risk periods.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Interpret air quality indices to set safe thresholds for wildfire smoke and respiratory protection.
Design work-rest schedules, hydration protocols and heat acclimatisation plans for hot environments.
Assess cold stress risk and design layered clothing and rewarming schedules for cold work.
Develop storm, flood and extreme weather emergency response plans with clear shutdown triggers.
Integrate climate forecasting and regional risk projections into long-term workforce planning.
Update climate adaptation policies and training on a seasonal cycle informed by monitoring data.
Who Should Attend
Health and safety managers responsible for outdoor, construction or agricultural workforces.
Occupational health practitioners advising on heat, cold and extreme weather exposure controls.
Facilities and operations managers overseeing refrigerated, outdoor or non-air-conditioned worksites.
Emergency planning coordinators developing storm and flood response procedures for dispersed workers.
Supervisors responsible for enforcing work-rest schedules during heat and severe weather events.
Corporate risk and sustainability teams assessing climate-driven workforce exposure over time.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Understanding Climate-Driven Occupational Health Risks
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Heat Stress Physiology and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Measurement
- Explain how heat stress physiology affects core temperature regulation, cardiovascular strain and cognitive performance.
- Measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) using calibrated instruments to assess combined heat, humidity and radiant load.
- Apply WBGT action levels to determine when work-rest cycles or postponement of outdoor tasks becomes necessary.
- Identify workers at elevated heat risk due to medication, underlying health conditions or lack of acclimatisation.
Session 2Wildfire Smoke, Air Quality Indices and Respiratory Protection
- Interpret air quality index readings for wildfire smoke and particulate matter to determine safe outdoor working thresholds.
- Select and fit respiratory protection appropriate to smoke density and duration of outdoor exposure.
- Establish trigger points for relocating outdoor work indoors or postponing tasks during poor air quality episodes.
- Monitor forecasted air quality alongside real-time sensor data to anticipate deteriorating conditions before shifts begin.
02Designing Controls for Heat and Extreme Weather
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Work-Rest Schedules, Hydration Protocols and Heat Acclimatisation Plans
- Design work-rest schedules calibrated to WBGT readings, task intensity and clothing insulation values.
- Implement hydration protocols specifying fluid type, frequency and monitoring for workers in hot environments.
- Build heat acclimatisation plans that gradually increase workload for new starters and returning workers over one to two weeks.
- Train supervisors to recognise early heat illness symptoms and to enforce mandatory rest breaks without exception.
Session 2Engineering and Administrative Controls for Outdoor and Non-Air-Conditioned Work
- Specify engineering controls such as shading, misting and ventilation for outdoor and non-air-conditioned workspaces.
- Adjust shift scheduling to move physically demanding tasks away from peak temperature hours where operations allow.
- Provide cooling stations and rest areas positioned within practical walking distance of outdoor work locations.
- Evaluate cooling vests, wide-brim hats and breathable fabrics as personal controls that supplement scheduling and shade.
03Cold Stress and Severe Weather Event Response
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Cold Stress Assessment and Controls for Outdoor and Refrigerated Work
- Assess cold stress risk using wind chill, exposure duration and clothing insulation for outdoor and refrigerated work.
- Design layered clothing and rewarming break schedules for workers in cold stores, outdoor winter sites and refrigerated transport.
- Recognise early signs of frostbite and hypothermia and establish clear escalation procedures for suspected cases.
- Adjust manual handling and dexterity task design to account for reduced grip and coordination in cold conditions.
Session 2Storm, Flood and Extreme Weather Emergency Response Planning
- Develop storm and flood response plans covering shutdown triggers, evacuation routes and worker accountability checks.
- Coordinate with weather forecasting services to set lead times for suspending outdoor and at-height work before severe weather arrives.
- Establish communication protocols to reach dispersed or mobile workers during rapidly developing extreme weather events.
- Conduct post-event reviews of storm and flood response to identify gaps in warning time, evacuation and worker welfare.
04Building Long-Term Climate Adaptation Into Safety Management
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Climate Risk Assessment and Forecasting Integration for Workforce Planning
- Incorporate long-range climate forecasting and regional projections into annual workforce and scheduling planning.
- Identify sites and roles with growing exposure to heat, wildfire smoke or flooding based on regional climate trends.
- Prioritise capital investment in shading, ventilation and drainage infrastructure at sites facing rising climate risk.
- Review historical incident and near-miss data for weather-related contributing factors often recorded under other causes.
Session 2Policy, Training and Monitoring for Sustained Climate Adaptation
- Update heat, cold and extreme weather policies annually to reflect current thresholds, forecasting tools and lessons learned.
- Deliver refresher training before seasonal risk periods so procedures are current when extreme weather returns.
- Monitor compliance with work-rest schedules and hydration protocols through supervisor checks and worker feedback.
- Report climate-related health and safety trends to leadership as part of long-term workforce risk planning.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
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