Keeping your team cool in extreme heat

Dina Fergadiotis - HR Advisor

​The hot weather is just around the corner and of course that can mean excessively hot work environments for some employees, especially those working onsite, in factories and in warehouses. Excessive heat has potential to cause a significant safety hazard in work places that can lead to symptoms such skin irritations, dizziness, dehydration, excessive sweating, heat stroke or, in the extreme, death. 


So how do you protect your employees while balancing the needs of your business?

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IT’S HEATING UP
There is no law in Victoria regarding limitations for working in temperatures however several industries and EBA’s stipulate that 35°C is considered the limit of high temperate tolerance for workers and thus, when temperatures reach this level in some work environments employers may choose to stop work and send their employees home.

All employers have a legal obligation to provide all employees with a safe work environment.  In the interest of being our usual creative selves, we have some options that might be helpful to your business!  These strategies are designed to help site, warehouse and factory workers keep their core body temperatures cool and working in an environment that minimises any risk to their health whilst maintaining a high level of productivity.   

KEEPING IT COOL

• Ensure there is a good supply of icy poles and ice cubes in the freezer that workers can help themselves too.
• Install a chilled water fountain or purchase lots of bottles of water and put them in the freezer for employees to take as needed.
• Provide hydrolyte for employees to re-hydrate themselves 
• Keep the doors shut where possible to keep the sun out
• Encourage employees to wear appropriate clothing such as light colours and light weight fabrics – cotton is the best fabric in the heat as it is breathable and soaks up perspiration which allows heat to escape the body!
• Encourage employees to drink water every 15 mins to stay hydrated even if they are not thirsty
• Provide a additional short breaks 
• Have a dedicated room that is fully air-conditioned room for people to have breaks 
• Purchase some extra heavy-duty fans to place around work stations 
• Adapt working hours over summer to accommodate for early starts and finishes where viable for delivery of your business services.
• Provide sun protection such as zinc, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats for employees working outdoors
• Purchase affordable neck coolers to wrap around people’s necks or cooling vests that can be worn at work 

Most of these strategies are low cost, will keep your employees safe and will ensure there is limited impact to productivity on hot days – what’s not to love?  Additionally, your employees will appreciate that you care about them – and that goes a long way in keeping and engaging great employees. 

If you would like any additional advice or information regarding management of extreme weather conditions,  please contact us via email or call for a chat with one of our team.

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