Beat the heat - Preventing heat illness in the workplace

What are the risks of working in heat?

Australians are no strangers to hot summers and heat waves! And while we all know that working in extreme heat is uncomfortable, it can also be hazardous to our health and safety.

When our bodies cannot sufficiently cool themselves to maintain an optimal temperature (approximately 37 degrees Celsius), heat illness can occur. The effects of this can include:

• heat stroke - a life threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention
• fainting
• heat exhaustion
• heat cramps
• rashes
• dehydration, and
• worsening of pre-existing medical conditions.

Working in heat also comes with many safety risks, including:

• burns from contact with hot surfaces or tools
• slips, trips, and falls from increased sweating, fatigue, or fainting
• loss of grip from increased sweating, and
• reduced concentration, and errors due to heat fatigue.

Those who are at greater risk of heat illness include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments, such as miners, construction workers, farmers, boiler room workers, factory workers, firefighters, and others.

Factors that can contribute to heat illness occurring in the workplace include:

• air temperature
• humidity
• air flow
• radiant heat
• clothing
• physical requirements of tasks, and
• health and fitness of the worker.

How to manage the risks of heat illness

If you have employees working in heat, you have a duty under workplace health and safety laws to manage the risks by eliminating them so far as is reasonably practicable, and if not practicable, by minimising them as far as is reasonably practicable.

While every workplace environment will be different, some practical ways to minimise the risks of heat illness include:

• rescheduling hot tasks to a cooler part of the day
• reducing the time an individual spends doing the hot tasks (task rotation)
• arranging for more workers to do the job
• providing additional rest breaks in cool areas
• increasing air movement using fans or air conditioners
• installing shade cloth to reduce radiant heat from the sun
• using mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion.
• providing workers with cool drinking water near the work site - encourage them to drink a cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes
• providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce exposure to radiant heat
• modifying uniforms (if practicable) to allow workers can wear more breathable clothing
• providing outdoor workers with sun protection, such as a wide brim hat, loose fitting collared shirts, sunglasses, and sunscreen
• providing workers with the appropriate training on heat illness and first aid
• installing shields or barriers to reduce radiant heat from sources such as furnaces, and
• removing heated air or steam from hot processes using local exhaust ventilation

Some people will be more susceptible to heat illness than others, including those who are physically unfit, have pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure, are overweight, are pregnant, abuse alcohol, or are not acclimatised.

Thermal discomfort

People working in office environment or performing roles that require very little physical work are not generally at risk of developing a heat related illness. What they will typically experience as a result of hot and humid conditions is thermal discomfort.  

While thermal discomfort is not a direct health and safety risk, it can have a serious impact on a worker’s wellbeing, affecting their morale and work performance. Ongoing exposure can also result in fatigue, and reduced concentration and productivity.

Thermal comfort will vary among people, however, most generally feel comfortable when the temperature is between 20°C and 27°C and the relative humidity ranges from 35 to 60 per cent.

Thermal discomfort in indoor workplaces can generally be managed by:

• increasing air movement,
• providing air conditioning,
• providing access to cool water, and
• wearing suitable clothing.

Supporting your team to monitor and improve their health and wellbeing will help to reduce their risk of developing heat illness when working in heat (among many other benefits).

Beat the heat and keep your workers healthy and safe this summer.

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References:
• SafeWork Australia, Managing the risks of working in heat, Guidance material, 2021.
• NSW Government SafeWork NSW, Maintaining thermal comfort in indoor work environments, < https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/heat-and-environment/maintaining-thermal-comfort-in-indoor-work-environments>

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