Heatwave prompts SafeWork NSW warning on worker safety
16 Jan 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
With a heatwave forecast this week, SafeWork NSW is reminding businesses and workers to prepare for extreme temperatures over the coming days.
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures and humidity can cause serious heat-related illness. Effects include dehydration, fainting, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, with death possible in the most extreme cases.
Heat can also cause fatigue, impairing judgement and slowing reactions. This increases the risk of other work health and safety injuries.
Employers’ duty of care includes preparing a workplace heat management plan in consultation with workers and their health and safety representatives to keep people safe when working in high temperatures.
SafeWork NSW’s website provides resources on managing extreme heat at work, including tips for developing a heat management plan. It also has information about ultraviolet radiation, its risks and ways to prevent exposure.
Workers who believe their workplace is unsafe can report concerns anonymously to SafeWork NSW by calling 13 10 50 or using the ‘Speak Up Save Lives’ app.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that may need attention as you prepare for extreme heat. Take the free WHS self-check