Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit - Occupational Heat Stress Knowledge Assessment Tool (HEPRU-OHSKAT)

Fueled by rising global temperatures, occupational heat stress continues to pose a critical threat to the health, safety, and productivity of workers in Ontario, across Canada, and globally. To address this threat, the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skill Development (MLITSD) recently proposed a stand-alone heat-specific regulation within the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This regulation will require occupational health and safety (OHS) personnel to develop and implement comprehensive heat stress management programs and policies for their workplaces. However, little is known about the current scope of knowledge of OHS personnel related to heat stress, such as their awareness of methods to identify heat-related health and safety risks, capacity to implement procedures to control heat exposure or their ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and other adverse health effects in their workers.

To support efforts to improve health and safety for workers across Ontario, we aim to develop an assessment tool to evaluate the current knowledge and perceptions of occupational heat stress. This information will help inform the development of future guidance to support OHS personnel in managing heat-related risks.

For this study, we are seeking participants (aged 18+, English speaking) from Ontario that represent either:

1. Any person with a role/responsibility in heat stress management (e.g., OHS manager, industrial hygienist, joint health and safety committee member), or

2. Any person working in the province of Ontario.

Knowledge Assessment Test
The knowledge assessment test takes approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. We ask that you please complete the assessment based on your current knowledge and, therefore, ask that you don’t use any resources to answer the questions (e.g., internet, manuals, reports). The test includes a series of demographic questions and self-assessment questions, as well as heat stress-specific questions based on the current guidelines. The heat stress-specific questions are presented in 4 main sections:

Part A: General Heat Stress Knowledge
Part B: Knowing the Signs & Symptoms of Heat Stress & First Aid
Part C: Exposure Limits and Heat Monitoring Practices
Part D: Workplace Controls for Heat

To help ensure the reliability of the knowledge assessment tool, you will be asked to provide your email address on the final page of the test so that we can contact you in approximately 10 days to ask you to complete the test again. Please note that this is optional and we appreciate the contribution regardless.