Product Overview

Summary: This Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical controls for working safely during extreme heat, cold, storms, high winds and poor air quality in Australian workplaces. It helps businesses decide when to modify work, when to stop, and how to protect workers from weather-related illness, injury and incidents while remaining compliant with WHS obligations.

Australian workplaces are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events – from heatwaves, bushfire smoke and intense UV radiation to severe storms, high wind events and cold snaps in southern regions. These conditions can rapidly turn routine tasks into high‑risk activities, leading to heat stress, dehydration, slips, trips and falls, flying debris, reduced visibility, and impaired decision‑making. This Working in Extreme Weather Conditions SOP provides a structured, defensible approach for assessing conditions, adjusting work methods, and implementing controls before harm occurs.

The procedure guides supervisors and workers through pre‑planning, monitoring of weather forecasts and onsite conditions, risk assessment, and specific responses for heat, cold, storms, lightning, high winds, heavy rain, flooding and poor air quality. It clarifies who has authority to suspend work, how to manage vulnerable workers, what communication and documentation is required, and how to resume operations safely. By embedding this SOP into daily operations, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS laws, reduce the likelihood of weather‑related incidents and claims, and provide workers with confidence that their health and safety will not be compromised when conditions turn extreme.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of heat stress, hypothermia and other weather‑related illnesses through clear exposure limits and control measures.
• Ensure consistent, defensible decisions about when to modify or cease work in extreme weather conditions.
• Strengthen compliance with WHS duties by documenting a systematic approach to weather‑related risk management.
• Improve worker confidence and engagement by clearly outlining rights, responsibilities and stop‑work triggers.
• Minimise operational disruption by planning for extreme weather in advance, including alternative tasks and recovery procedures.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Field Service Technicians
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Civil and Mining Supervisors
• Facilities and Grounds Managers
• HSE Coordinators
• Emergency Response Team Leaders

Hazards Addressed

• Heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during high temperatures and heatwaves
• Dehydration and fatigue due to prolonged work in hot or humid conditions
• UV radiation exposure leading to sunburn and increased skin cancer risk
• Cold stress, hypothermia and reduced dexterity in low temperatures or wind chill
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, icy or muddy surfaces during rain or storms
• Injuries from flying debris or unstable structures in high winds
• Electrical shock or electrocution from working outdoors during lightning activity
• Reduced visibility and respiratory irritation from bushfire smoke, dust or poor air quality
• Vehicle and mobile plant incidents in heavy rain, flooding or low visibility
• Exacerbation of existing medical conditions (e.g. asthma, cardiovascular issues) in extreme weather

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Extreme Heat, Cold, High Wind, Storm, Poor Air Quality, UV Index)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Weather Monitoring and Pre‑Planning Requirements
• 6.0 Risk Assessment for Extreme Weather Conditions
• 7.0 Control Measures for Extreme Heat and High UV Exposure
• 8.0 Control Measures for Cold, Wind Chill and Wet Conditions
• 9.0 Control Measures for Storms, Lightning and High Winds
• 10.0 Control Measures for Heavy Rain, Flooding and Reduced Visibility
• 11.0 Control Measures for Smoke, Dust and Poor Air Quality Events
• 12.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hydration Requirements
• 13.0 Stop‑Work Criteria and Escalation Process
• 14.0 Communication, Training and Consultation with Workers
• 15.0 Emergency Response and First Aid for Weather‑Related Incidents
• 16.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Review
• 17.0 Continuous Improvement and Post‑Event Review Checklist

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Guidance material on Work-related Heat and Thermal Comfort
• Safe Work Australia – National Guidance on Occupational Exposure to Bushfire Smoke (where applicable)
• AS/NZS 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (for work at height in adverse weather)
• AS/NZS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment