Working in heat is a hazard that can cause severe health problems for many workers. Whether your workers work indoors or outdoors, preparing for these potential risks is essential with summer approaching and high temperatures already being recorded.
As outlined by SafeWork, if heat is a hazard in your workplace, the standard risk management approach should be followed:
- Identify the hazard
- Assess the risks
- Control the risks
- Review control measures.
Workers and Health Safety Representatives (HSR’s) must be consulted at each step of the above process.
If you are a business owner or person conducting business undertaking (PCBU), there are duties to keep your workers and workplace safe from potential risks due to working in the heat.
The body starts to overheat if it has to work harder to keep cool, leading to heat-related illnesses. With recent climate data showing that extreme heat events are occurring in Australia more often and for longer periods, these changes will likely impact the way work as well as how health and safety guidelines are implemented.
Particular tasks that require concentration, coordination and immediate memory skills can become compromised. By carefully researching and planning you can prevent and reduce heat-related injuries as they can be quite common, and may result in fatalities.
For more information, please contact our team or refer below.
Source: Safe Work Australia
Title: Heat- Working In Extreme Heat
Read Time: 5 minutes
Source: National Library of Medicine
Title: What Can We Learn about Workplace Heat Stress Management
Read Time: 5 minutes