Working in heat: An employer’s guide

Summers in Australia are known for being extremely hot. As global temperatures rise each year, working in heat poses serious health and safety risks to your employees if not managed properly.

Explore this employer’s guide to learn the best practices for managing outdoor activities in the heat. Topics include occupational laws, heat stress management, safety tips for the workplace, and more.

Why is working in heat dangerous?

When it comes to occupational sun exposure, a study authorized by Safe Work Australia highlights the statistics of two sectors where most, if not all, work is done outdoors. It revealed that 99% of agricultural and 86% of construction workers are exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Working in the heat presents serious health risks. The Australian government reports that 2 out of 3 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they reach 70 years old. This statistic is heightened during the summer when temperatures are at an all-time high.

Heat stress happens when the body fails to control its internal temperature. Workers performing tasks in cramped, hot, and outdoor environments with poor ventilation are prone to experiencing this.

While there isn’t a specific ‘stop work’ temperature under the safety laws in Australia, employers must comply with the standards listed in the Model Work Health and Safety Act (WHS). Under this law, employers must take reasonable steps to eliminate or control any health and safety risks that pose a potential threat to their workers.

Changes in the air temperature that go beyond the normal range for comfort can lead to numerous problems. When exposed to high temperatures for too long, your workers may suffer the following heat-related illnesses. Here are the common symptoms of heat stress in Australia to watch out for:

• Heat exhaustion: Weak or rapid pulse, vomiting, headaches, nausea
• Heat stroke: Dry and hot skin, mental confusion, unconsciousness, strong pulse, seizures
• Heat rash: Small red spots, blisters, itching sensations in the affected area 
• Dehydration: Dry mouth, tiredness, headache, dizziness
• Fainting: Pale face, nausea, shortness of breath, blurred vision

Discover the best health and safety tips for working in heat. Sign up for SC Training today!

How to manage the risks of heat in the workplace

As an employer, you must keep the workplace safe and free from risks as much as possible. Note that under WHS regulations, employers are considered PCBUs, or persons conducting a business or undertaking. This includes companies, associations, sole traders, and self-employed individuals.

To help you out, remember the following strategies to manage the risks of heat on-site:

1. Outline the potential hazards in the area

Exposure to heat for extended periods is a common hazard in Australian work sites. To help you identify these risks, consult your team, similar businesses, and injury records to make sure you don't miss anything.

Additionally, consider the following factors:

• Air flow
• Humidity
• Air temperature
• Work requirements
• Heat sources
• Workers
• Current workplace conditions

2. Conduct a risk assessment of your worksite 

Performing a risk assessment is critical to reducing injuries and accidents at work. This helps you realize the intensity of the risk involved, evaluate whether your current control measures are enough, and gather the necessary documentation for compliance and audits.

When assessing risks, you should take note of their potential impact and likelihood of causing harm. As working conditions vary from one site to another, it’s important to keep an open mind. However, if you suspect the risks are too high, Safe Work Australia suggests consulting an occupational hygienist for a professional risk assessment.

3. Take action to control the risk

Remember that as an employer, the law requires you to eliminate the risks associated with working in heat as much as is “reasonably practicable.” Some practical steps you can take are canceling or rescheduling tasks to be performed at a cooler time, extending your team’s rest breaks, and enrolling your managers in a health and safety awareness course.

Additionally, make sure there’s proper ventilation in the working area to let fresh air fill the room. You can invest in air conditioning or fans to enhance this.

4. Evaluate control measures

The last step is to evaluate your existing control measures. This allows you to verify whether they’re enough or need improvement. Below are the following instances that require this:

• When there’s a change in workplace practices or layout
• When new materials and equipment are added
• When new problems arise
• When an injury or near miss happens on your team
• When requested by a health and safety representative or required by consultation

Safety tips for working in the heat 

While each site has its own set of rules and procedures for heat protection, workplace safety statistics reveal that operating in temperatures above 38°C increases the chances of heat stress. To manage these risks, here are some practical heat safety tips to share with your team:

• Wear light or loose-fitting clothes.
• If possible, arrange or rotate the work schedule so tasks can be done during a cooler period.
• Make cool drinking water readily available on-site.
• Implement or increase rest breaks for each shift.
• Prepare sun-protective clothing and equipment for your team.
• Encourage workers to call for assistance if the need arises.

Be proactive about working in heat with safety training

When it comes to working in heat, your team’s safety should never be left as an afterthought. You can take the first step toward protecting your workers with heat stress training. Luckily, we have the perfect courses for you.

SC Training (formerly EdApp) has partnered with Hydralyte to create two safety training courses for Australian teams and organizations working in the heat. As the country’s #1 Oral Rehydration Solution, Hydralyte aims to help workers fight dehydration and manage heat stress through their clinically formulated hydration drinks.

Let’s explore the contents of each course.

Managing the Risks of Working in Heat (AU)

SC Training’s Managing the Risks of Working in Heat (AU) is a comprehensive course that explores the common effects and risks of working under the heat. It covers common heat-related illnesses, symptoms, and first aid measures. The course concludes with actionable steps for identifying and assessing heat-related risks.

Employer’s Guide to Managing The Risks of Working in Heat (AU)

The second course, Employer’s Guide to Managing The Risks of Working in Heat (AU), helps employers review health and safety protocols for outdoor work. It discusses factors influencing heat risks and offers a guide to assessing individual worker risks for heat-related illnesses.

It also features WHS regulations and other Australian laws regarding working in the heat. The course concludes with control measures and tips for implementing a heat safety training program.

But that’s not all. With SC Training’s mobile-first platform, you can: 

• Review your team’s skills on the job with Practical Assessments.
• Access a variety of construction training programs through its editable Course Library.
• Store essential files like images, videos, and PDFs for easy reference alongside their mobile training with Briefcase.
• Track course completion and compliance with Certificates.
• Ditch the manual spreadsheet and record attendance directly from your phone with Group Training.

Master safety techniques for working in heat. Join SC Training today!