As we are now in the peak of summer, we would like to remind everyone of the dangers of heat illness, stress, and exhaustion.
It is going to be a massive year for the building and construction industry with some major projects in Melbourne still in full swing.
The metro tunnel project and rail removal are only a few of the numerous large-scale projects currently being undertaken. Not to mention, residential houses are being built now with all new little estates popping up all over the Metro and regional Victoria and some major rail works being conducted upgrading with lines connecting our regional towns together.
That said, it is essential that workers safe-guard themselves and look after their health in the warm weather.
Factors to look out for with heat illness, stress, or exhaustion:
- Air temperature - knowing the air temperature helps workers plan accordingly and prevent exhaustion and heatstroke
- Humidity - the level of humidity has a huge impact on one's body temperature. High humidity can lead to increased levels of fatigue and dehydration
- Air speed - air speed affects how quickly our body cools down, so if the air speed is too low, we can overheat easily
- Radiant temperature - The sun's intense heat or a lack of ventilation in confined spaces can make for an overwhelmingly hot environment
- Clothing - including protective clothing such as overalls. Some places have long sleeve shirts and long pants as conditions of their workplace
- Physical Activity - including acclimatisation and any pre-existing conditions eg overweight, heart/circulatory diseases, skin diseases, or use of certain medicines
Heat Illness, stress, exhaustion can be from a range of different conditions such as:
- Feeling sick
- Dizzy spells
- Feeling weak
- Fainting
- Exhaustion
- Cramps
- Rashes
- Fatigue
If any of these conditions arise for your employees, it is advisable you have them seek medical attention straight away. We recommend forward planning your jobs and tasks around the hot/humid days as much as feasible to look after you and your employees.
For further information please contact NECA’s safety team on 1300 300 031 or via email at [email protected].