As temperatures rise and the country begins to swelter, it is timely to consider the work related risk of heat stress.

We have all been educated over the years about the importance of sun safety. Can you believe that the Cancer Council’s slip, slop, slap campaign was launched in 1981! Working in hot or humid conditions can lead to heat related stress and illness. A heat related illness can be caused by a number of factors including the wearing of high levels of personal protective equipment; exposure to heat generated in foundries, steel mills, smelters, bakeries and many other workplaces. Not everyone reacts to heat in the same way.

Employers should identify and mange heat related exposure by assessing:

  • Workplace conditions
  • Job requirements
  • Individual worker attributes (a medical conditions may make a worker more susceptible to the heat as may age, body weight and general health).

The Queensland Government has issued a Heat Stress Calculator (https://fswqap.worksafe.qld.gov.au/etools/etool/heat-stress-basic-calculator-test/) to be used as a guide and/or training tool to help identify and manage the risk of heat related illness.

Once any heat related risk is identified, it must then be controlled by:

  • modification of the environment to suit the work
  • modification of the work to suit the environment.

So how hot does it need to be to stop work? CFMEU Enterprise Bargaining Agreements state that workers will stop work and leave site when the temperature reaches 35 degrees.

The risk of heat related stress and illness is real and all employers should be vigilant, especially as the Australian summer approaches. Workers should also take steps to monitor their own exposure to unreasonable levels of heat stress.