OH&S - Thermal Comfort (Working in Heat)

Victorian OHS laws do not state any precise temperature at which workers should stop work, nor do they specify the actions which must be taken by an employer at certain temperatures.

Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is the range environmental conditions of heat, humidity and airflow in which most people will feel comfortable. For people doing office work the optimum range is 20 – 26 degrees. This depends on the time of year and the clothing worn. Employees and students undertaking work requiring physical exertion may prefer a lower temperature range.

Strategies to manage the effects of seasonal heat
Swinburne has within it multiple types of work places from outdoor areas in horticulture to indoor office environments as well as industrial kitchens & laboratories. These environments are not always able to be changed to eliminate exposure to heat and so the focus needs to be on changing the work environment where possible and / or altering work arrangements to eliminate or reduce as much as possible the exposure to heat.

The effects of working in heat can be defined into two groups.

Heat Illness
Heat illness covers a range of medical conditions which the human body can develop when it is not able to cope when working in heat. Heat illness includes:

Heat stroke – a life threatening condition which requires immediate medical attention
Fainting in heat
Heat exhaustion
Heat cramps
Skins rashes – prickly heat
Heat fatigue; and
Worsening of pre-existing illnesses or medical conditions

Symptoms of the above can appear as feelings of sickness, nausea, dizziness, weakness, clumsiness, collapse and convulsions. Employees exhibiting these signs or symptoms should seek first aid / medical attention.

Heat Discomfort
Heat discomfort is not a medical condition. It is the discomfort experienced by most people when it’s hot. So although we may feel considerable discomfort, the work conditions are such that we face no significant risk of developing the serious health & safety problem of heat illness.

Generally speaking personnel working in offices are very unlikely to be at risk of suffering heat illness. Any heat problems they experience are far more likely to be due to heat discomfort.

Communicate
If you are working in heat and are feeling the effects of heat discomfort or heat illness contact your supervisor, health & safety representative or OHS Consultant.

Assess the risk
Each Swinburne location, its activities and personnel are different, and so as with any health & safety concern, the hazard once identified should be assessed to establish the risk of injury (heat illness) to staff and students in the context of the local environment.

Controlling the risk
A number of strategies can be adopted to reduce the exposure to heat. Through a process of dialogue explore what can be done in your individual work area.

If there is an existing cooling system establish that it is operating and fully functional – if not report this to the Facilities & Services Group
Relocate personnel to a cooler area where practicable
Introduce fans to circulate the air; open windows and vents where practical
Alter the work so heavy or high concentration work occurs during cooler times
Take regular rest breaks in a cool well ventilated place
Work at a sensible pace and be alert to warning signs; self monitor – in particular those persons with pre-existing health conditions who may be affected by working in heat
Wear the lightest level of clothing that still provides the necessary level of protection
Ensure employees and students have free access to cool water

When extreme heat conditions are forecast and occur
From time to time extreme heat conditions do occur. When heat waves are forecast the authority and responsibility for allowing staff to work from home or releasing staff from duty lies with local management.

Sources for the above & more information can be found at:
Working in Heat – Victorian Workcover Authority
http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/resources/file/ebd90b43a087fa8/workingheat.pdf

Compliance Code – Workplace Amenities and Work Environment
The Work Environment - paragraphs 122 – 126
http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/3e0a97804071fb5fb1d6ffe1fb554c40/Workplace+amenities+CC.pdf?MOD=AJPERES