The Write Advice

with Gordon Meggatt

How to work when the heat is on

Feeling hot under the collar? Have you got adequate measures in place for you and your employees to deal with the heat? Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and OHS Regulations 2001 there are no prescribed temperature maximums or minimums.

However a risk management approach should be adopted in consultation with employees. Together you should look at the hazards associated with working in extreme temperatures and what control measures could be implemented to keep the risk as low as practically possible.The first step is to identify the sources of heat and cold, by looking at the work environment, the plant used and the work processes and practices. The effects of heat and cold on the body are influenced by environmental factors such as:

• Air temperature: how hot or cold the surrounding air is

• Humidity: the moisture content in the air

• Air movement: air speed and air circulation

• Radiant heat: heat radiating from the sun, or emitted by plant, buildings, fixtures or processesEmployers need to ask "are employees exposed to risk through":

• The physical activities they perform?

• Their proximity to hot or cold plant or substances?

• Their surroundings/work environment in which they are located?

Some possible effects from exposure to hot or cold environments can include fatigue, sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shivering, hypo or hypothermia, slurred speech, and collapse.

To determine how serious your heat or cold related problems could be, a risk assessment would need to be undertaken. Some of the risk factors that would need to be considered include the source of the heat or cold, the nature of the work undertaken, the duration of exposure to heat or cold, the physical condition and capability of the worker and past experience of problems arising from work in hot or cold environments. Control measures as outlined in the OHS Regulations 2001 include:

• Providing adequate ventilation and air movement in indoor environments that may become hot.
• Appropriate work and rest regimes relative to the physical fitness, general health, medication taken and body weight of each employee exposed to heat are implemented.
• For employees exposed to the cold to have adequate access to heated or sheltered work areas and warm clothing or other personal protective equipment

Additional measures to follow include:

• Starting work earlier to avoid the heat

• Ensuring adequate drinking facilities are available

• Providing shade where possible

• Monitoring temperatures in the workplace

• Rotating people or duties

• Scheduling heavy work and tasks that require the wearing of PPE for cooler times of the day,

• Developing first aid and emergency procedures.

• Some employers may need to check their industrial award agreements to see if there are any other requirements or stipulations.

More information

To help implement the requirements there is a code of practice "Working in Hot or Cold Environments" available from WorkCover on 13 10 50 or www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or Australian Business Limited on 13 26 96.