Members across the state have experienced a couple of uncomfortably hot days, with more expected.

What can you do about it?

These hot work guidelines are for the use of PSA CPSU NSW members who may be required to work in hot conditions, or who are exposed to excessive heat and other adverse climatic conditions during their employment. The guidelines cover both indoor and outdoor work.

If you are experiencing health issues at work, please advise your manager or supervisor, log a Work Health and Safety (WHS) incident report, and if you are unable to continue working, go home or go to your doctor if necessary.

In an emergency, dial 000.

If you are experiencing issues in your workplace because of the current environmental conditions and the employer is not managing the situation, for example offering flexible work arrangements to enable workers to temporarily work from another location, you may be able to cease unsafe work.

All workers have the right to cease unsafe work if they are concerned that continuing the work puts them at serious risk of harm.

Sections 84 and 85 of the Work, Health and Safety Act 2011 state:

84: A worker may cease, or refuse to carry out, work if the worker has a reasonable concern that to carry out the work would expose the worker to a serious risk to the worker’s health or safety, emanating from an immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard.

85: (1) A health and safety representative may direct a worker who is in a work group represented by the representative to cease work if the representative has a reasonable concern that to carry out the work would expose the worker to a serious risk to the worker’s health or safety, emanating from an immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard.

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) should refer to the WHS Act for further important provisions.

More information

Health NSW
www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/default.aspx

SafeWork NSW
www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/working-in-extreme-heat

Workers can also contact SafeWork NSW on 131 050 and request urgent assistance from an Inspector.