These temperatures are worse in some worksites due to poor design, and for some operators of forklifts and trucks the temperatures exceeded well over the 50 degree mark. Emergency Services struggled to cope with an explosion of call outs to workplaces as a result of workers suffering heat related illness, and the union was inundated with calls for assistance.
Some Union workplaces had a heat policy included in their Union Collective agreements.
In those workplaces steps were implemented such as;
- breaks every half hour or every hour in an air conditioned lunch room
- cool drinks,
- the option of finishing work when the temperature exceeded 36 degrees.
Other workplaces however had little to no heat arrangements in place and some were reliant on a company drafted heat policy that insured workers had to stay at work, no matter how hot the temperature.
If you would like a Union negotiated heat policy included in your next Agreeement, contact the Union on 1800 060 556 and ask to speak to your organiser.
