NT WorkSafe issues heatwave warning after two workers suffer heat illnesses

NT WorkSafe Issues Heatwave Warning After Two Workers Suffer Heat Illnesses

Northern Territory workplace safety regulator, NT WorkSafe, is urging employers to protect outdoor workers from heat stress after two workers suffered heat-related illnesses last month. Both incidents occurred during extreme heatwave conditions, prompting fresh safety warnings for businesses across the Top End.

NT WorkSafe said a young worker suffered from heat stroke after working on the roof of a rural property on 12 October. Two days later, a 45-year-old seasonal worker collapsed while working at a mango farm in the Darwin rural area. The worker was taken to hospital after experiencing dehydration.

“A heatwave warning had been issued on Tuesday 10 October 2023 by the Bureau of Meteorology, with extreme heatwave conditions forecasted for the following days in the area both workers were working in,” NT WorkSafe said.

Employer Safety Obligations During Heatwave Conditions

The safety watchdog says employers are required by law to take measures to protect outdoor workers from heat-related illness. Under work health and safety legislation, businesses must assess risk factors linked to extreme temperatures and implement controls before workers are exposed to hazardous conditions.

Employers across construction, agriculture, and outdoor trades should treat heat as a serious occupational safety risk, not an afterthought. Effective heat management combines hazard awareness, health monitoring, and access to shade, hydration, and rest breaks.

Key safety measures employers should consider include:

• Monitoring weather warnings and adjusting work schedules to avoid peak heat periods
• Providing accessible drinking water and encouraging regular hydration breaks
• Training supervisors to recognise early signs of heat illness among workers
• Reviewing risk assessments for outdoor and high-exertion tasks
• Ensuring first aid resources are available and staff know emergency response procedures

These practices align with broader safety obligations that apply to all workplaces, including those in construction, agriculture, and mining-adjacent industries where outdoor labour is common.

Why Heat Safety Matters for Outdoor Workforces

Heat-related illness can escalate quickly, and workers who ignore early symptoms risk serious health consequences, including collapse or hospitalisation. NT WorkSafe’s warning follows a pattern seen elsewhere, where two workers have been hospitalised or seriously harmed due to preventable workplace hazards.

Businesses managing outdoor teams should incorporate heat safety into existing risk management resources, alongside procedures for other environmental hazards. For example, workplaces handling equipment that generates heat, such as those using a heat gun, should apply similar diligence when assessing exposure risk during hot conditions.

Safety documentation, including a properly prepared Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), can help employers formalise heat safety controls for high-risk tasks. NT WorkSafe’s reminder reinforces that proactive planning, not reactive response, is central to protecting worker health during extreme weather.

For employers seeking further guidance on outdoor safety planning, resources covering seasonal hazards, such as summer heat safe work practices, provide practical frameworks for managing worker exposure to hot and humid conditions.

Learn More

Learn more here about NT WorkSafe’s heat safety obligations and how employers can strengthen workplace safety practices ahead of the next heatwave season.