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Beat the Heat

January 14, 2020

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:

  1. Constant supplies of cool drinking water
  2. Breaks to rest and cool off in the shade or airconditioned area
  3. Loose fitting clothing and for outdoor workers – wide brim hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  4. Time to adjust to working in the heat by gradually increasing workload and heat exposure
  5. 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.

  • November 19, 2019

    Cleaning up the Waste Management Industry

    Truly horrific conditions have been exposed at the waste management factory that exploded in April.

  • May 24, 2019

    New AWU Victorian Branch Assistant Secretary and President

    It gives me great pleasure to announce that the AWU Victorian Branch Committee of Management last week appointed Jimmy Mastrandonakis as Assistant Secretary and Tanya Harrington as Branch President for the rest of the term expiring 30th June 2021.

  • March 24, 2019

    OHS Concerns at Viva

    AWU Victorian Branch Secretary Ben Davis said Viva needs urgent improvements before someone is hurt. “The AWU has been raising concerns with WorkSafe about the refinery for the last three years and the response has been inadequate.”

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