heat stress

kieren

They say 37 degrees c is normal temperature and pushing beyond this for long periods and the buckle and break. the body works hard to maintain its cool when temperature soars but eventually systems fail. we sweat to try and cool the body down but this drains the body and needs to be replaced, in temps of 38 degrees in an 8 hour period working out doors the average person sweats 8 litres meaning you need to drink at lest 8 litres of water a day. i find it hard to drink 4 let alone 8. We are in for some hot months ahead so i want to know how do you deal with the heat? and if there is any laws stating what temp workers cant work in?. here in Adelaide we are having a heat wave and we are still being forced to slog it out for 10 hours a day is this legal?

dov

The best practice that I know came form my days in the CFA. In wildfire conditions we had to drink a litre or 1.5 litres per 2hrs (can't remember but you get the idea), plus VERY IMPORTANT WHEN SWEATING THAT MUCH every two hours an electrolyte drink (think sports drink with plenty of potassium). That will stop the muscle cramps and headaches.

Eric Frei

I'll be a PITA and say, you are not forced ... everyone has the right to quit.

Added PDF from Safework SA

Also this link, seems it's up to your employer.

Heat stress - MAQOHSC

Attached Files

HeatStressHazardAlert6.pdf (109.1 KB, 20 views)

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Sean Freeman

kieren, if your boss is approachable talk to them about adopting management procedures to ensure that the risk of injury from heat stress is minimised.

There is a legal obligation under Australian OH&S legislation for workplace risks to be indentified and managed. Your State OH&S Dept will have plenty of freely available information on many ways such risks can be effectively managed at the workplace.

I have attached a couple:

gs29i.pdf

040107_heat_warning.pdf

Eric Frei

The other day my fingers were cramping on the Kanga controls getting the logs out. That's a bugger.

Doesn't take much. I go through a 5L water jug a day, 3 shirts and a stack of sweat bands .... and that's just watching the workers. (Just kidding)

Go to any chemist and get some Schuessler muscle relaxant tissue salts. They're like $8 for 100 tablets, just suck on a few during the day.

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kieren

cool thanks heaps lads some good info there thank god the temp has dropped. On the topic where on the key board is the degrees symbol?

Eric Frei

It's the humidity up here that kills you, in Adelaide your sweat dries, here you stay wet all day.

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