Mines urged to act against heat stress as scorcher sets in

Resources Safety and Health Queensland has highlighted the need for mine-site measures to reduce heat-related illnesses as the state continues to swelter through a heatwave. The Bureau of Meteorology has a severe heatwave warning in force for the Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Central Highlands and Coalfields districts, Central West, North West, Channel Country, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast Districts. "Our mine sites can be a hazardous place to work but even more so during a heatwave," RSHQ chief executive officer Rob Djukic said. "The strategies and techniques we use to reduce heat stress at mines are simple, but sometimes overlooked. "Mines should consider having measures such as potable water and ice machines nearby, using mechanical aids over manual labour, and planning work activities for cooler periods during the day." Mount Isa and the Richmond region are marked out to experience extreme heatwave conditions in the Bureau of Meteorology's three-day outlook from today. "In those particular locations it looks like it should be staying generally in the low forties across the next three days during the afternoon, getting up, hovering around that 41-42 degree mark for Mount Isa and Richmond's around 43 degrees for those three days," meteorologist Shane Kennedy said "And the overnight temperatures are only getting down to the mid twenties ... Saturday morning could be particularly bad, only getting down to around 26 degrees in Mount Isa and 27 in Richmond." Inland regions of Queensland have been experiencing temperatures broadly three to seven degrees above average, with parts of the southern interior reaching seven to 11 degrees above average yesterday afternoon. Thargomindah reached 45.1 degrees yesterday, Birdsville 45, and Charleville and St George hit 42.1, Mr Kennedy said. There is no quick relief in sight for many parts of Queensland. Mr Kennedy said late yesterday that cooler temperatures would slowly spread across southern Queensland over the next couple of days. "It still stays pretty warm in general. Probably in the Darling Downs and Wide Bay-Burnett in the south-east it will start cooling down more properly on Monday and Tuesday, when we see some increasing rainfall and some cloud - that should return to average there," he said. "But for parts of central and particularly north-western Queensland this heat unfortunately is likely to hang around for several days. So even looking into early next week, it's still sitting in the low forties around Mount Isa and the Richmond area and Longreach." RSHQ recommends that mine sites should consider the following measures to reduce heat-related illnesses: reduce radiant heat sources using insulation, spot cooling or shielding. locate potable water and ice machines within easy access for workers to hydrate regularly. use mechanical aids where possible (e.g. using cranes and forklifts), to minimise physical exertion in heat. plan work activities to include periods of acclimatisation for workers returning after prolonged absence. implement regular rest breaks in cool areas such as vehicle cabins, crib rooms and control rooms. erect portable shades as refuge areas for temporary or remote work locations increase air movement by the installation of mechanical fans and introduce cooling fans where possible. reschedule high physical work activities to cooler times during the shift. select clothing options which offer ventilation openings and permeable fabric.

Mines urged to act against heat stress as scorcher sets in

Industry Queensland

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