Over the holidays we saw some soaring temperatures across all parts of Australia - even reaching up to 45ºC+ in some areas. Undoubtedly the heat can make us feel irritable and as a result leave us unfocused. But according to SafeWork NSW district coordinator David Young, the summer temperatures could be fatal.
Nonetheless, it is not necessary to stop work altogether during periods of heatwave, one should simply take some common sense approaches to heat exposure especially if you work outside or in hot conditions.
We list below some life saving tips to keep in mind in the event of a heat wave.
1. Dress appropriately
Wear loose clothing covering your skin, with light coloured clothing taking a preference. This lowers your risk of sunburn and encourages perspiration keep you a little cooler. Always wear a shoes and a hat when outdoors and apply sunscreen to any exposed body parts like your face and hands.
2. Avoid strenuous exercise
Where possible, take part in outdoor activities and physically demanding tasks in the morning hours or postpone them until evening once temperatures have cooled. If you must work outdoors, remember to stay hydrated.
3. Stay hydrated!
We can't stress the importance of this enough. When your body perspires you're naturally losing moisture. Make sure you're replenishing these liquids by water regularly throughout the day, even if you're not thirsty.
At Recovery Partners we can assist you with a site-specific WHS/OHS plan with heat-related risk assessments and management plans.
Feel free to contact one of our expert safety consultants on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email us at admin@rrp.com.au to see how we can help. You can only make an online enquiry here.