Manny vs the Scorcher: Heat Stress on Site
The Takeaway
Heat doesn't care how tough you are: drink, shade, rest, and watch your mates.
- Water: drink little and often, and start the shift hydrated.
- Shade and rest: take breaks in shade or a cool place.
- Timing: schedule heavy or hot jobs for cooler parts of the day.
- Ease in: new to the heat, or back from leave? Build up gradually (acclimatisation).
- Buddy up: watch each other for signs of heat illness.
- Speak up: heat problems on site? Talk to your supervisor or HSR.
Know the Signs
Early signs: tired, dizzy or weak. Stop, get into the shade, cool down and tell your supervisor.
Heat exhaustion: headache, nausea, clammy skin. Cool down, rest and take sips of fluid. Not better fast? Call triple zero (000).
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If someone is confused, has slurred speech, hot skin (they may still be sweating), a seizure or passes out, call triple zero (000). While you wait, move them to shade, remove extra clothing and cool them fast with cold water, wet towels, ice packs on the neck, armpits and groin, and a fan. Only give sips of water if they're fully awake and can swallow. Not sure? Treat it as heatstroke.
The Script
Manny: "Scorcher today. Water breaks are for the weak. I'll push through!"
Ally: "Manny, you're bright red, you look wiped out, and you've been leaning on that shovel for ages."
Manny: "…I'm resting it. Bit dizzy, though."
Ally: "Into the shade, cool water, rest. Dizzy or weak? Stop and tell your supervisor."
Ally: "Headache, nausea, clammy? Heat exhaustion: cool down, rest. Confused, slurred, hot skin, even if they're still sweating? Heatstroke. Call triple zero and cool them down while you wait."
Manny: "Okay. Me and the shovel are taking five."
Ally: "I'll sit with you."
Ally: "Heat doesn't care how tough you are."
Ally: "Share this with your crew before summer."
Sources
- WorkSafe WA: Working safely in hot conditions
- Safe Work Australia: Working in heat
- Safe Work Australia: Working in heat, managing risks
- Safe Work Australia: Managing the risks of working in heat (fact sheet, PDF)
- healthdirect: Heatstroke
- healthdirect: Hot weather risks and staying cool
- ANZCOR Guideline 9.3.4: Heat induced illness (hyperthermia)
- St John WA: Heat induced conditions
- Bureau of Meteorology: Heatwave service
Characters and voices are AI-generated. General safety information only, not medical or legal advice. Follow your site's procedures and your employer's heat plan. In an emergency, call triple zero (000). First aid training is recommended.