Product Overview

Summary: This Inclement Weather and Outdoor Work SOP sets out clear, practical controls for working safely in adverse weather conditions across Australian workplaces. It helps businesses decide when work can proceed, when it must be modified, and when it must stop altogether, protecting workers from extreme heat, cold, storms, lightning, high winds and poor air quality while maintaining WHS compliance.

Outdoor work in Australia is uniquely exposed to rapidly changing and sometimes extreme weather conditions, from heatwaves and bushfire smoke to sudden storms and high winds. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible approach for assessing inclement weather risks and determining safe work limits before, during and after outdoor tasks. It translates weather forecasts, on-site observations and regulatory expectations into clear, step-by-step decisions that supervisors and workers can apply in real time.

The document addresses common pain points for businesses: uncertainty about when to suspend work, inconsistency between supervisors, and the challenge of balancing project deadlines with legal duties under WHS laws. It sets out objective triggers for modifying or ceasing work, specific controls for heat stress, UV exposure, cold stress, electrical storms, heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and reduced air quality, and communication protocols for dispersed field teams. By implementing this SOP, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, reduce weather-related incidents and disputes, and give their outdoor workforce confidence that their health and safety is being prioritised.

This SOP is suitable for a wide range of sectors including construction, civil works, utilities, local government, education, events, agriculture, and property maintenance. It is written in plain, practical language, designed to integrate with existing WHS management systems, risk assessments, and emergency response plans, and to support toolbox talks and worker training on safe outdoor work in all conditions.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible decisions about when outdoor work can proceed, be modified, or must cease due to inclement weather.
• Reduce the risk of heat stress, cold stress, lightning strikes, slips, trips, falls and other weather-related incidents.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant Codes of Practice for outdoor and remote work.
• Improve planning and communication between supervisors, workers and clients when extreme weather is forecast or occurs unexpectedly.
• Support effective training, toolbox talks and induction processes for workers regularly exposed to changing weather conditions.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Outdoor Maintenance and Grounds Teams
• Civil and Roadworks Supervisors
• Utilities and Infrastructure Field Supervisors
• Facilities and Estate Managers
• Event and Venue Operations Managers
• Parks and Recreation Coordinators
• Agricultural and Horticultural Operations Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during high temperatures and heatwaves
• Dehydration and fatigue from prolonged work in hot and humid conditions
• UV radiation exposure leading to sunburn and long-term skin cancer risk
• Cold stress, hypothermia and reduced dexterity in low temperatures or wet, windy conditions
• Lightning strikes during thunderstorms, especially near tall structures, open areas and metal equipment
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, muddy, icy or unstable ground surfaces
• Falling objects and structural instability due to high winds or gusts
• Reduced visibility and vehicle incidents in heavy rain, fog, dust storms or smoke
• Respiratory irritation and illness from bushfire smoke, dust, or poor air quality
• Drowning and entrapment risks associated with localised flooding and fast-rising water
• Electrical hazards from downed powerlines, water ingress into electrical equipment and temporary power setups
• Manual handling injuries exacerbated by wet, slippery or unstable footing

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Inclement Weather, Extreme Heat, High Winds, Poor Air Quality, Lightning, etc.)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBUs, Officers, Supervisors, Workers, Contractors)
• 4.0 Planning Outdoor Work and Weather Risk (Pre-Start and Project Planning Requirements)
• 5.0 Weather Monitoring and Information Sources (Bureau of Meteorology, Air Quality Index, Local Alerts)
• 6.0 Risk Assessment Process for Inclement Weather (Likelihood, Consequence, and Control Selection)
• 7.0 Heat and UV Exposure Controls (Work/Rest Regimes, Hydration, Shade, PPE, Acclimatisation)
• 8.0 Cold, Wet and Windy Weather Controls (Clothing, Shelter, Work Modification, Equipment Use Limits)
• 9.0 Thunderstorms and Lightning Procedures (Cease-Work Triggers, Safe Sheltering, Recommencement Criteria)
• 10.0 High Wind and Storm Procedures (Cranes and Plant, Working at Heights, Securing Materials and Structures)
• 11.0 Heavy Rain, Flooding and Ground Stability Controls
• 12.0 Air Quality, Smoke and Dust Controls (AQI Triggers, Respiratory Protection, Work Suspension Criteria)
• 13.0 Vehicle and Mobile Plant Operation in Adverse Weather
• 14.0 Communication, Escalation and Decision-Making Protocols
• 15.0 Remote and Isolated Work Considerations in Inclement Weather
• 16.0 PPE Requirements and Environmental Protective Clothing
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talk Requirements
• 18.0 Incident, Near Miss and Weather-Related Illness Reporting
• 19.0 Documentation, Records and Review of Weather-Related Decisions
• 20.0 References, Related Documents and Legislative Compliance

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat
• Safe Work Australia – Guide: Outdoor Work and UV Radiation
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace (for wind and weather-affected plant)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Falls at Workplaces
• AS/NZS 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) – Official Warnings and Heatwave Service (referenced as a planning and trigger tool)
• State and territory electrical safety legislation and guidance on working in storms and near powerlines