Working in heat: What employers need to know

Employer OHS duties of care extend to ensuring staff, contractors and volunteers are not overexposed to a workplace heat load that exceeds people’s capacity to maintain a core body temperature of 37 degrees centigrade and suffer a heat related incident.

Factors that make working in heat hazardous include: 

• Humidity
• Air flow
• Physical intensity and duration of the work
• Whether workers are physically fit and acclimatised to the conditions
• Clothing/PPE that is needed (e.g. long sleeves/trousers/gloves/hats, etc.).

It is a mistake to think about the heat hazard in terms of temperature only. By reviewing the above, the hazards and exposures are better understood, and a more targeted and effective mix of controls can be developed.

These controls typically must follow the following approaches:

1. Allow staff to work from home or avoid commuting where practicable during extreme heat conditions to minimise outdoor exposure commuting to the office.
2. Encourage workers to disclose (confidentially) any health conditions or medications that increase heat sensitivity and adjust duties accordingly.
3. Eliminate or avoid working in heat by not proceeding with planned work and ensuring staff are not exposed - relocate to air-conditioned indoor work for example.
4. Reduce exposure by rescheduling/reducing planned work to earlier in the day and finishing/moving indoors before high heat periods of the day/shift.
5. Shield against radiant heat sources such as utilising existing shade or installing portable shade if possible. Alternatively increase shielding against radiant heat sources such as ovens/furnaces or molten glass or steel. This may also include PPE items that shield against heat sources.
6. Reduce the personal exposure to a hot workplace through increased staff rotation in hot work areas, reducing planned hot work during the day/shift, increased break or work times in air-conditioned environments.
7. Increase the air flow velocity in hot work areas to increase the cooling effect of air movement and as such, more effective cooling of people. This effect reduces as humidity increases.
8. Provide training for exposed staff on how to prepare for and reduce their risks of heat related illness and injury e.g. awareness of all controls, ‘mind-a-mate’, correct hydration and food intake, urine colour, effect of drugs/alcohol and heat acclimatisation issues.
9. Increase hydration (drinking water) of staff to ensure they are able to sweat normally, maintain a personal homeostatic balance (maintaining core body temperature), and do not dehydrate.
10. Provide personal cooling options like cold water and wet/cool clothing (e.g. moistened neck scarves/cool vests).

The Victorian Chamber’s Workplace Relations team can also review, prepare and improve your procedures and practices for working in hot conditions and assist in these complex safety management needs.

For more information regarding this and other consulting and training services, our Workplace Relations Advice Line can help with immediate advice on 03 8662 5222.