Guidance for workers and union officials regarding high temperatures at work
Working in high temperature can be hazardous. Exposure to excessive heat either indoors or outside can pose risks to worker health and safety.
If temperatures at your work are creating a serious and immediate to your safety – you have a legal right to cease work.
If you stop work, let your HSR, manager and union rep know.
What the law says
Our laws do not state a minimum or maximum safe temperature for work, this is because other factors such as humidity, heat sources, clothing, and any breeze or wind, can all have an effect on how heat affects someone.
The effects of heat will vary depending on factors from person to person.
However, PCBUs (a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking – generally your employer) must make sure, so far as reasonably practicable, that workers’ health and safety is not put at risk, this includes hazards from heat in the workplace.
This means that the risks to health and safety from heat in the workplace must be eliminated or otherwise minimised so far as is reasonably practicable (as with any other risks to health and safety).
Impacts of heat at work
Hot temperatures can cause discomfort and hazards such as:
- Reduced concentration, and fatigue
- Heat stress, exhaustion and fainting
- Heat rash and cramps,
- Heat strokes
- Aggravation of pre-existing illnesses
- Aggravation of effects of other hazards, e.g. noise
If you or your colleagues experience any of these, lodge this through your H&S reporting mechanisms, also inform management, your HSR and union rep.
Work factors that raise the risk of heat-related hazards
- High temperatures and humidity, lack of air movement, and or, exposure to radiant heat (such as direct sunlight or heat-producing plant/ machinery)
- Work in confined spaces during hot or humid weather
- Physically demanding work.
- Clothing or personal protective equipment (PPE) that are not breathable and prevent or slow the body’s ability to lose excess heat.
- Not being acclimated to a hot workplace.
What do employers need to do?
Engage with workers
PCBUs must engage workers and their unions in risk assessments, and in making decisions on how to manage risks in the workplace.
Assess the risk of high temperatures in the workplace
This includes identifying the risks arising from the work environment and work factors, and considering the likelihood and severity of the harm that might result.
Manage the risk
Eliminating the source of the heat is the best option, where there is not possible utilise a range of control measures to minimise the risk as much as possible so far as reasonably practicable.
This might include:
- Redesigning the work area and practices to limit heat exposure
- Install fans, cooling/ air conditioning or natural ventilation
- Insulate hot machinery or surfaces to limit radiant heat
- Modify work schedules to limit exposure t high heat
- Allow for more breaks over summer/ hot periods
- Relaxing dress codes
- Allowing staff to be more flexible in their working arrangements
Remember the hierarchy of controls and utilise stronger controls
Links and resources:
- WorkSafe NZ: Working safely in extreme temperatures
- WorkSafe NZ: Managing thermal comfort at work
- E tū: Working in high temperatures
