Your Rights Working in Heat

Every employer or Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has a duty of care to “ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace”. This includes ensuring that workers are not exposed to hazardous temperatures.

Working in excessively hot weather can be extremely dangerous, and even fatal. Every year, around the world, workers die on the job due to extreme heat.

As the temperature rises the body becomes less able to cope with the strain, serious health risks such as:

Heat Cramps:  These are painful cramps in the legs and arm muscles, the back and the stomach. They are due in part to excessive loss of salt during sweating.

Heat Rash:  Skin rashes over arms, shoulders and chest and behind the knee often associated with a tingling or prickly feeling are a sign of excessive heat exposure.

Heat Exhaustion:  This happens when the body loses too much water too quickly. The blood pumped to the skin for cooling purposes depletes the brain of sufficient blood and this can cause fainting. The signs are heavy sweating (clammy skin), vomiting, paleness, dizziness, low temperature, tiredness and a weak pulse.

Heat Stroke:  This occurs when the body is no longer able to control its internal temperature. Because sweating stops, a high fever results that can lead to damage to organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys.

Workers have the right to cease unsafe work (WHS Act S.83-88) and HSRs can direct the cessation of unsafe work.

If you start to feel dizzy in the heat and humidity, cease work and tell your manager why.

If you or others are experiencing any of these symptoms you should seek medical advice. As the temperature rises, the likelihood of workers’ health suffering increases.

Hot temperatures cause discomfort and hazards such as:

• reduced concentration (and increased likelihood of accidents)
• increased discomfort in use of protective clothing and equipment
• aggravation of effects of other hazards, e.g. noise
• aggravation of pre-existing illnesses
• heat stress, exhaustion and fainting.

Heat discomfort is felt at 30 degrees Celsius. All efforts should be taken by employers to keep temperatures below this level or to provide conditions for outdoor workers that help reduce the effects of seasonal hot conditions where the temperature exceeds 30 degrees.

Wet bulb temperature measures heat and humidity combined. Humans usually regulate their internal body temperature by sweating, but above the wet-bulb temperature, we can no longer cool down this way, leading our body temperature to rise steadily. This essentially marks a limit to human adaptability to extreme heat – if we cannot escape the conditions, our body’s core can rise beyond the survivable range and organs can start failing.

A PCBU has a duty to monitor conditions at the workplace WHS Act S.19 (3) (g). This includes using a hygrometer to monitor heat and humidity conditions in kitchens, laundries, foundries etc and exterior workplaces.

Both indoor and outdoor work measures to be taken should include:

• avoiding work in areas where workers are exposed to heat
• providing air-conditioned rest rooms
• changing the rate of work e.g. taking longer
• providing lighter alternative work
• use of air-circulating fans
• use of shade cloths
• use of trees to shade buildings and outdoor areas
• provision of constant supplies of cool drinking water.

When work cannot be re-scheduled or artificial cooling provided then a regime of rest breaks in cool areas with cool drinks is essential.

The temperatures for rest breaks will vary depending upon usual temperatures and whether workers are acclimatised. To minimise the risks, the temperature needs to be constantly monitored.

State and territory work health and safety (WHS) regulations state that:

1. Ventilation must allow workers to carry out work without risks to health and safety; and
2. Workers carrying out work in extremes of heat or cold must be able to carry out work without risks to their health and safety

These regulations, however, do not specify temperatures at which action must be taken by an employer, although some Awards and many Enterprise Agreements may. Employers should also have policies and control measures in place; make sure you are familiar with these instruments.

Poor Environmental Conditions is also a psychosocial hazard recognised under the model code of practice and all state-based codes – this includes extreme heat.

Your industry and union may have different schedules than those below that consider the type of work and conditions for your workplaces. The below is a recommendation for workers where those specific arrangements are NOT in place.

The effects of heat are more pronounced if the air quality is poor, for example due to smoke haze. When it is hot and there is smoke haze the body spends energy keeping itself cool and coping with the effects of smoke haze.

Some people may have physical or medical health conditions, making them more susceptible to hot conditions.

Hydration

Thirst is not a reliable guide for dehydration. It is essential to drink especially when working or exercising in the heat. Drink water, not energy or sports drinks. Urine that is light yellow is a good indication that you’re getting enough fluid.

First Aid

If someone is suffering from heat stress they must immediately report to and be given first aid. This includes resting in cooler area, keeping the skin wet and fanning to improve evaporation and cooling of the skin.

If you have concerns about exposure to unsafe or excessive heat in your workplace, contact your union or your local work safety regulator.