High heat stress risk for Queensland

The Outlook

Temperatures in many parts of SEQ are predicted to exceed 35°C by midday on Thursday and remain above average until Saturday. But temperature is not the whole story when assessing the risk of heat stress. Although the temperatures are probably going to be hotter on Thursday, the risk of heat stress is higher on Friday and Saturday due to light winds and increased humidity.

Thursday 18 March – hot, windy and moderate humidity – Moderate risk of heat stress for those undertaking Work Levels 3 and 4 (see explanation below).

Friday 19 March – hot, light winds and moderate humidity – Moderate risk of heat stress for those undertaking Work Level 2 and High risk for Work Level 3 and 4. The risk is highest from mid morning until the sea breeze arrives in the afternoon.

Saturday 20 March – lower temperatures, high humidity and light winds – Moderate risk of heat stress for those undertaking Work Level 2 and High risk for Work Level 3 and 4. The risk is highest from mid morning until the sea breeze arrives in the afternoon.

What to do

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to undertake moderate work activities here are some tips to reduce the risk of heat stress:

• Ensure you remain hydrated. If you aren’t hydrated your body will have trouble sweating to keep you cool. This can mean drinking 600 ml of water every 30 minutes.
• If your work area has reduced air flow, see if you can create more by opening up doors and windows, moving to a different location or turn on a fan. If you can’t create air movement take regular breaks.
• Listen to your body and keep an eye on your buddies. If you are feeling dizzy, nauseous, weak, irritable or thirsty or have a headache and have been sweating heavily you may have early signs of heat stress.

How can we help?

We can provide this warning for anywhere in Australia. If you are concerned about your situation and would like to discuss it with an expert please send me a message.

If you would like regular warnings of heat stress risk please contact us as we have a system called Heat Manager that can help you proactively manage the risk of heat stress in your work place.