Summer heatwaves have killed more Australians than all other natural hazards such as floods and bushfires, with more than 5,300 deaths linked to extreme temperatures, according to a study by a national research centre.
The Bushfires and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre has also warned that older men are most at risk, accounting for 61 per cent of all heat-related deaths since 1844. Occupations that had a significant number of deaths caused by heat exposure included outdoor workers, mining and the food industry.
A CRC team, led by Macquarie University risk assessment scientist Lucinda Coates, used data from coronial inquests and Australian Bureau of Statistics records to analyse deaths occurring between 1844 and 2010.
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