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.

-Queensland
July 10, 2019
AWU Takes Mining Safety Fight to State Govt

Since the tragic death of a miner last week, the AWU has been taking the fight to the State Government to urgently introduce better safety regulations for Queensland Mines.
-Queensland
February 27, 2020
Coronavirus & Safety at Work

Many AWU members are on the frontline of risk of exposure to Coronavirus and we’ll be working hard to ensure that every possible precaution is taken to keep members safe at work.
-Queensland
August 13, 2019
Information for Former QNI Workers

The dispute about Queensland Nickel settled on 3 August 2019. Contact the AWU if you are a former Queensland Nickel employee and are unsure if your account details are correct.

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