Summer is here. Australia registered one of the warmest heat waves ever. Businesses of all kinds are turning on fans to keep workers cool and happy, but what about the 20% of people working outside daily?
They say happy workers are productive workers, but what if it was less a question of happiness and more a question of survival? According to the International Hazard Datasheet of water treatment operators one of the greatest risks is the time of sun exposition. This is even worse for Australian workers as more than one-quarter of Australia’s oil&gas, water and mine activities principally take place in the hottest (and sometimes more humid) regions of the country.
Water treatment operators must tolerate both exogenous and endogenous sources of heat when performing high intensity physical tasks as opening valves while wearing protective clothing – always coupled with exposure to high ambient temperatures.
While federal agencies don't set a maximum safe temperature for workers, employers are responsible for protecting workers from extreme heat.
In short, if you are working outside and feel that the heat stress is putting your health at risk, you have the right to request to your employer equipment that eases your task. At Modec, oil&gas, mine and water operators’ safety is crucial, that is why we decided to move closer to you in order to understand your needs and to offer you customized solutions to help you in your daily task.
If you are looking for solutions in order to ease water treatment operators’ work, you should check this article where we give you the solutions to the three main water treatment operators harms.
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