Beat the Heat - The Australian Workers' Union : The Australian Workers' Union

AWU Workplace Health & Safety Alert

December 2019

Working in excessive heat can lead to serious illnesses and sometimes even death.

You have the right to STOP WORK if you feel symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, such as:

Nausea or vomiting
Headache/dizziness/fatigue
Hot/dry skin
Muscle cramps
Loss of consciousness

Don’t work outside of your body’s capabilities and say no to unsafe work.

Your employer has a legal duty of care to protect you from heat stroke and heat exhaustion by providing:

Constant supplies of cool drinking water
Breaks to rest and cool off in the shade or airconditioned area
Loose fitting clothing and for outdoor workers – wide brim hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Time to adjust to working in the heat by gradually increasing workload and heat exposure
Training and education for recognising symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stress and seeking medical help quickly

Contact your AWU Organiser for advice and assistance on 1300 362 298 if your work involves exposure to heat.

-Victoria
December 3, 2019
Who are we? An AWU Member Story

Tahani studied welding to create sculptures. She was unable to pursue her passion for sculpting, because she needed to find a job in order to make a living. In October of 2015, with her newly learned welding skills, she found herself a job in the steel industry. Working long hours, she would come home physically exhausted and mentally drained.
-Victoria
November 14, 2023
AWU Secures Victory in Ad Standards Complaint Against Hungry Jacks

The Australian Workers’ Union has welcomed a recommendation by Safe Work Australia for a total ban on all engineered stone, to protect workers from the deadly silica dust associated with its use.
-Victoria
December 10, 2019
Is your workplace safe from SILICA DUST?

Each year 600,000 Australian workers are exposed to silica dust.

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