Working smart: An exploration of council workers’ experiences and perceptions of heat in Adelaide, South Australia

•Outdoor workers perceive themselves to be vulnerable to heat exposure and are aware of future risks.•Workers recognise that heat can impact on many facets of work including safety and productivity.•Adaptation (working smarter) is required to cope with heat exposure, especially for older workers.•Management plays a pivotal role in ensuring that workplaces adhere to heat policies/guidelines. Excessive workplace heat exposures are presenting an increasing challenge in terms of occupational injuries and heat-related illnesses. Although heat safety guidelines exist in many industries, the extent to which heat exposure is perceived to impact on workers is yet to be fully explored. In this case study, a qualitative approach was used to investigate outdoor council workers’ experiences and perceptions of heat impacts in the workplace. Thirty-two male workers participated in 5 focus groups. Proceedings were audio-recorded, transcribed and data coded using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that although existing heat policies are in place, hot weather continues to impact workers’ health and well-being, work practices and productivity. The results showed the importance of workplace management and training, and an understanding of the need for workers to be able to self-pace during hot weather. The impacts of these factors on the behavioral adaptation of workers are discussed along with implications of the research for the management of heat-related risks in workplaces.