An Evaluation of Health and Safety Personnel and Workers' Occupational Heat Stress Knowledge in Ontario: Paper B

Introduction With the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events rising, occupational health and safety (OHS) personnel must be well‐informed about heat management solutions. Consequently, assessing the knowledge level and technical expertise of OHS personnel is essential for equipping workplaces to operate safely in hotter conditions. Methods The Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit‐Occupational Heat Stress Knowledge Assessment Test (HEPRU‐OHSKAT) was distributed among OHS personnel and the general working population (GWP) (> 18 years) throughout Ontario, Canada, to assess their current knowledge regarding managing occupational heat stress. The instrument included 31 items grouped into four core competency areas including: (A) General Heat Stress Knowledge (items (q): 8, max score (ms): 13), (B) Knowing the Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stress and First Aid (q: 7, ms: 32), (C) Exposure Limits and Heat Monitoring Practices (q: 13, ms: 40), and (D) Workplace Controls for Heat (q: 3, ms: 15). The number of respondents and the percentage of the total sample were calculated based on individual response rates to each question. Results A total of 317 respondents (female: 110, median age: 42 years, range: 18–74) from 17 industries (OHS: 68% vs. GWP: 32%) completed the HEPRU‐OHSKAT. The average total knowledge score for all respondents was 54 ± 22% (56 ± 22% vs. 48 ± 21%), with no respondents exceeding 90% overall and scores on individual knowledge categories varying substantially. Conclusions The HEPRU‐OHSKAT identified knowledge gaps among OHS personnel in Ontario's workplaces, particularly for knowledge of control measures for reducing or preventing exposure to heat stress. Practical Applications Training and education are necessary across all HEPRU‐OHSKAT knowledge categories to enhance heat stress management and minimize the OHS hazards associated with working in the heat.