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Every employer or Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) has a duty of care to "ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace." This includes ensuring that workers are not exposed to hazardous temperatures. Between 2005 and 2014, 13 workers died in Australia from being exposed to `environmental heat' - five were in Queensland including a 40-year-old. As the temperature rises the body becomes less able to cope with the strain, serious health risks such as: Heat Cramps: These are painful cramps in the legs and arm muscles, the back and the stomach. They are due in part to excessive loss of salt during sweating. Heat Rash: Skin rashes over arms, shoulders and chest and behind the knee often associated with a tingling or prickly feeling are a sign of excessive heat exposure. Heat Exhaustion: This happens when the body loses too much water too quickly. The blood pumped to the skin for cooling purposes depletes the brain of sufficient blood and this can cause fainting. The signs are heavy sweating (clammy skin), vomiting, paleness, dizziness, low temperature, tiredness and a weak pulse. Heat Stroke: This occurs when the body is no longer able to control its internal temperature. Because sweating stops, a high fever results that can lead to damage to organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys. |
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