For most manual labor jobs, weather conditions are a significant factor in injury risk and workers' compensation claims. As temperatures continue to rise and heatwaves worsen, some already high-risk professions will become even riskier. Researchers at ScienceDirect examined the impact of ambient temperatures on work-related injuries and illnesses and quantified the associated burden. The study, "The effects of ambient temperatures on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses," compared daily numbers of workers' compensation claims in Adelaide, South Australia, from 2003 to 2013 and daily weather data. Researchers found that the lowest number of workers' compensation claims occurred under maximum daily temperatures of 77 °F (25 °C). Overall claims increased under extremely hot temperatures, indicating that heat exposure had an acute effect on workers' injuries, while cold conditions resulted in delayed effects. Moreso, researchers found that moderate temperatures had an even greater injury burden than extreme temperatures. Another study conducted by the same group of researchers examined the impact of heatwaves on work-related injuries and illnesses in the Australian cities of Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. The study found that vulnerable groups included: |

• Male workers aged under 34 years;
• Apprentice/trainee workers;
• Labor hire workers;
• Those employed in medium and heavy strength occupations, and
• Workers from outdoor and indoor industrial sectors.

Researchers also identified which professions put workers at the most risk under these conditions. In the slideshow above, discover which jobs have the greatest risk as temperatures continue to warm and heatwaves become even more extreme. Related: |

• Workers' comp trends to watch in 2021
• How to spot potential causes of workplace injuries, fatalities
• COVID workers' comp claims grew 'noticeably' in Q2 2020