Objectives: (1) To provide insights into hygienists' perceptions of extremely hot weather management  in a warming climate, and (2) To investigate the current preparedness  for extreme heat from occupational hygienists' perspective.

Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted during the 30^th Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Inc. held in Adelaide from 1^st to 5^th December 2012. A total of 371 registered conference delegates in attendance were invited to participate in this survey.

Results: Overall, 180 of the 371 conference delegates participated in the survey, with a participation rate of 48.5%. Nearly 90% of participants were moderately or more concerned about workplace extreme heat exposure. Almost two thirds of participants agreed that climate change related extremely hot weather may present a future challenge for heat stress management. Half (50.0%) of participants were satisfied or strongly satisfied with the heat preventive measures currently adopted in the workplace. Most (81.7%) respondents did not know of organizations planning for the predicted likely increase of extremely hot weather. Furthermore, 73.3% of respondents did not know of companies that have made changes to reduce the impact of extremely hot weather. Only 26.1% of respondents intended to alter their heat-related prevention recommendations in a warming climate. Lack of awareness was the most frequently (68.3%) mentioned heat prevention barrier.

Conclusions: Australian workplaces may not be well-prepared for the likely increasing heat stress challenge due to climate change.