Working in heat

Working in heat can be extremely hazardous and can affect workers in both indoor and outdoor environments.

As the PCBU, you should monitor the temperature and conditions of your workplace. See the Bureau of Meteorology for weather forecasts.

You must identify and manage the risks of heat in your workplace.

Your workplace and workers might be particularly susceptible to heat-related problems if there are any of the relevant factors below present.

For indoor workplaces:

• history of related illness occurring at the workplace
• high levels of heat/humidity inside the workplace
• surfaces or equipment that produce, radiate or reflect heat and/or ultraviolet rays
• workers are engaged in physical tasks (including prolonged standing)
• any plant or equipment that produces heat or steam
• poorly ventilated work areas with little airflow
• any non-insulated walls/ceiling spaces of the workplace exposed to direct sunlight
• pregnant workers, or workers with health issues that may impact their heat tolerance, and
• workers not drinking enough fluid.

Additionally, for outdoor workplaces:

• workers exposed to high temperatures (e.g. above 30 degrees Celsius) and/or high levels of humidity
  • higher levels of humidity can increase the risk of heat stroke even at lower temperatures
• workers working outdoors when the Ultraviolet Index is 3 or above
• direct sun exposure, and
• inadequate acclimatation (e.g. new workers or workers returning from leave).

You must implement control measures in consultation with workers and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) (if you have them).

Eliminate the hazard

As the PCBU, you must eliminate or minimise the risks of exposure to extreme heat at your workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable.

It may not be possible to change the environmental conditions. However, consider whether the work can be done at an alternate time or place, for example, when working outdoors:

• cancel or reschedule work for a different time of the day, and
• move work indoors, for example carry out tasks in an air-conditioned warehouse.

When working indoors:

• provide air-conditioning.

If elimination is not possible, you should aim to isolate the risks or use engineering controls to minimise the risks.

Isolate the risk

Isolating the risk involves separating the hazard from workers. Some examples of isolation controls when working outdoors include

• working in the shade
• locate hot processes, equipment or plant away from people
• provide workers with air-conditioned break areas

For indoor workplaces, consider:

• installing shields, barriers or guards to isolate radiant heat sources, such as ovens, furnaces, etc
• provide workers with air-conditioned break rooms away from the hot process
• enclose or insulate hot processes, hot surfaces and around heat generating plant, equipment and pipes
• insulate buildings and clad sources of radiant heat, and
• where possible, relocate workers away from hazardous areas, such as direct sunlight via windows or skylights.

Engineering controls

An engineering control is a control measure that is physical in nature, including a mechanical device or process. Some examples of engineering controls for outdoor work include:

• provide screens, umbrellas, canopies or awnings over sections of the site to create shade where work is being carried out, and
• provide mechanical equipment to reduce the need for strenuous physical work

Examples of engineering controls for indoor work include:

• provide suitable and well-maintained air-conditioning
• install local mechanical exhaust ventilation to increase air movement and remove hot or heated air/steam from hot plant, processes and areas where heat can build up or where there is little air movement
• use chiller units, in extreme cases, to relieve air temperature and humidity (e.g. when working in confined spaces), and
• place reflective shields or coatings on radiant heat spots.

Administrative controls

Administrative controls should only be used to provide a systematic framework to support the higher controls that you have implemented.

Administrative controls for outdoor work include:

• limiting work that occurs in the hotter parts of the day during extreme temperatures
• allow flexibility in dress code, where possible
• provide easy access to cool drinking water and encourage workers to drink often
• provide regular and frequent breaks, preferably in an air-conditioned room or area, and
• implement an effective ‘buddy system’ where workers check each other frequently, particularly when working in heat.

Administrative controls for indoor work include:

• provide regular and frequent breaks away from the hot work areas in air-conditioned, well-ventilated areas
• ensure the first aid room is air-conditioned, and

• rotate workers or organise and pace work to minimise physically demanding tasks, this may include reducing the length of shifts

Some medications can affect the user’s ability to cope with heat. Ensure you make adequate adjustments for workers that are impacted by this.

Personal protective equipment

PPE is the last and least effective control in the hierarchy and should only be used to manage any risk that remains after all higher-level controls have been implemented, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Workers who need to wear or carry PPE in hot work environments can be at greater risk of exposure to heat-related illness because it can increase the body’s heat load. Where personal protective equipment is provided for workers exposed to extremes of heat, make sure:

• it is necessary
• it is suitable for the tasks and work environment
• it is comfortable to wear, allows free movement of air and sweat evaporation, and
• that workers are wearing it correctly and that they are not wearing more personal protective equipment than is required.

PPE for working in heat may include sun protection, light, breathable clothing and cooling vests.

Developing a temperature management plan

To effectively manage risks of exposure to heat-related illness a workplace temperature management plan should be developed and implemented in consultation with workers and their HSRs.

The plan should include suitable systems to:

• undertake regular workplace environmental temperature risk monitoring, including:
  • workplace heat and humidity, especially in summer and during heat waves
  • wind-chill is accounted for during winter months, and
• detail the agreed controls to be implemented, when they should be implemented and who is responsible for implementing them.

In some circumstances, during the consultation process with your workers and/or their HSRs, agreement may be reached on specific parameters for extreme heat and other conditions when work will be stopped to eliminate the risk. All agreed parameters should be included into the workplace heat management plan.

Heat waves

Heat waves are where the maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot over several days or weeks. Warmer nights impact how people recover from heat exposure during the day and can impact on sleep, leading to a greater risk of fatigue.

Heatwaves may be low-intensity, severe or extreme. Low-intensity heatwaves are generally tolerable; while severe heatwaves may impact more vulnerable people, such as older or young workers. Extreme heatwaves can have a significant impact, even for healthy or acclimatised workers.

Extra precautions should be taken during heatwaves, including close monitoring for signs and symptoms of heat related illness. Cancelling or rescheduling physically intensive outdoor work until conditions improve may assist with managing risks of heat during a heatwave.

The Bureau of Metrology has more information on heatwaves, with the Heatwave Service for Australia providing information on where the heatwaves are occurring.