Hazards on construction sites

A fit, healthy and somewhat young Topo staff member was recently undertaking fieldwork in North Queensland and was reminded first hand of the effects of heat stress (fortunately only a very mild case) and the importance of identifying symptoms. Whilst this person routinely spends time on site in the field, it is still very easy to under-hydrate when your focus may be on completing the task at hand. Like all risks, the best way to reduce the likelihood and consequence is by planning prior to undertaking the activity. Even if the task does not involve actual physical work (beyond walking onsite), people who spend most days in the office may not be familiar with the signs of suffering heat stress, most of which are not apparent until suffering some degree. We encourage all our colleagues to be mindful of the hazards when working onsite, because if you’re incapacitated, who will look after our waterways?! If you need to refresh yourself on how the body manages heat, symptoms of heat stress and managing exposure, more information can be found on WorkCover Queensland website