Speaker: Sam Hall, Researcher & PhD Candidate, La Trobe University
Climate change as an OHS issue
Central Safety Group members recently heard from Sam Hall, PhD candidate and researcher at La Trobe University, on the growing significance of climate change as a workplace health and safety issue.
Drawing on her research through La Trobe University's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, Sam explored how climate change, the greatest health threat of the 21st century, is creating new and emerging risks for worker health, safety and wellbeing. Her presentation highlighted that climate-related hazards extend well beyond heat exposure and extreme weather events, influencing physical health, psychological wellbeing, work design, and organisational resilience.
Sam shared preliminary findings from her research into how Australian occupational health and safety professionals perceive climate-related workplace risks. The findings suggested increasing recognition that climate change is not solely an environmental issue, but one that requires active consideration within workplace risk management frameworks.
A key theme of the presentation for me was the important role OHS professionals can play in helping organisations adapt to a changing climate. This includes identifying emerging risks, integrating climate considerations into existing safety systems, and supporting the development of resilient workplaces capable of responding to future challenges.
The discussion also explored the opportunities for organisations to take a proactive approach rather than waiting for climate-related impacts to occur. We were encouraged to consider how changing environmental conditions may affect our workforce and operations, and how these risks can be addressed through effective planning, leadership, work design and change management.
Sam's presentation challenged us to think differently about the intersection between climate change and workplace health and safety and sparked valuable discussion among attendees.
The session reinforced that climate change is increasingly becoming a core business and workforce issue, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the OHS profession as it supports organisations in adapting to a rapidly changing environment.
Thank you, Sam, for sharing your research and insights with the CSG community.
View Presentation & Full Event Video
members only, please login first.
