Has your organisation identified all the risks?

Managing heat stress is more involved than telling workers to be careful on a hot day. Safe Work Australia has highlighted factors that increase the risk of heat-related illness, creating a checklist to assist you in identifying hazards in your workplace.

Start by asking the following questions to help you identify potential issues:

• Is the environment hot or is there fire at the workplace?
• Are days and nights hotter than usual?
• Do people work during the hot part of the day or year?
• How often can workers take breaks somewhere cool?
• Is there air movement or a breeze?
• Is the work intense or long?
• Are workers physically fit and acclimatised?
• Do workers wear hot clothing (including PPE)? 
• Are the workers qualified, trained and experienced?
• Do workers have medical conditions?
• Is there cool drinking water or electrolyte drinks on hand? 

While these questions may seem obvious, it is important to understand conditions that impact on answers and make note of where heat intersects with other safety issues. An example of conditions is high humidity, which makes it harder for the body to cool itself; workers who are not acclimatised can suffer more in these conditions. In terms of intersections with other safety issues, a heatwave can make it harder to sleep leading to fatigue, or dehydration can be exacerbated by alcohol consumption the night before.  

What actions can be implemented to mitigate these risks?

It is essential to understand what your organisation needs in hot weather and effectively communicate health and safety guidelines, such as protective clothing, earlier starts, or empowering employees to stop work when conditions become too risky. 

For more information or to learn about Acclaimed Workforce’s workforce management solutions, contact us on 1300 119 229 today.