As summer temperatures start soaring over thirty degrees throughout the region, SafeWork NSW implores both workers and businesses to start early preparations for maintaining work safety under the scorching heat this season. The use of work safety products such as WHS management systems and SWMS becomes incredibly crucial during this period.
Employers bear the primary duty of care towards their employees and are advised to formulate a comprehensive workplace heat management plan with the assistance from their health and safety representatives (HSR) and employees. This approach ensures that everyone remains safe when temperatures escalate with the helpful utilisation of systems like Bluesafe WHS Management System.
The risk of heat-related illnesses rises when bodies begin to excessively overheat due to strenuous work. Such illnesses can manifest as various progressive symptoms including dehydration, faintness, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even potentially lethal, heat stroke.
Employers with outdoor-working employees should try their utmost to eradicate protracted spans of sun exposure. They can achieve this by offering shade, designating rolling tasks to minimise exposure, organising work during milder times of the day, and providing personal defensive gear such as hats, long sleeve shirts, and sunscreen. Thus, creating and using a ‘Bluesafe SWMS‘ (Safe Work Method Statement) becomes vital.
Guidelines for generating a heat management plan are available on the SafeWork NSW webpage along with the SeasonalSAFE tool.
With Australia holding the global record for the highest incidence of skin cancer— where startlingly, over 95% result from exposure to solar UV radiation— it is imperative for outdoor workers to minimise their developing skin cancer risk. They can do this by wearing appropriate UPF 50+ sun shield clothing and wide-brimmed bucket style hat (not baseball style), apart from regularly applying broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30+ or higher.
More information about Ultra-violet (UV) radiation, the accompanied risks and preventative measures is available on the SafeWork NSW webpage.
If any worker finds their workplace hazardous, they have the right to anonymously voice their concerns to SafeWork NSW either on 1300 355 222 or via the ‘Speak Up Save Lives’ app.
Quotes from Head of SafeWork Trent Curtin:
“The rising summer heat necessitates that businesses and workers begin discussing procedures aiming at averting work-related heat illnesses. We certainly don’t want to witness anyone needing medical attention due to heat exposure this summer.”
“We remind workers to remain cognisant of their bodily reactions when the temperature increases and to drink lots of water. It’s absolutely crucial not to substitute water with soft drinks, energy drinks or coffee as these further dehydrate you.”
“In circumstances where weather conditions cannot be avoided but become too intolerably hot, it might become necessary to halt work. Prioritising worker safety must always come first.”
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-media-releases/worker-safety-must-come-first-this-summer