Heat stress and worker rights: Regulations for Queensland construction sites

Queensland’s new Crisafulli government had announced in November 2024 it is suspending the Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPICs) for new government-funded construction projects.

The BPICs were introduced in March 2024 by the previous government to improve site conditions on new government projects worth over $100 million and included safety provisions for when air temperatures reach 35°C, or 29°C combined with 75% humidity.

If you work on a site without BPIC safeguards, you should understand the risks and symptoms of heat stress and how to minimise the dangers of hot or humid environments.

Understanding heat stress and its risks

Working in hot or humid environments, especially when these two conditions are combined, risks heat-related conditions including heatstroke, a potentially fatal illness.

If conditions are hot and you can’t avoid extreme conditions of high heat or humidity, you must protect yourself by avoiding sun exposure, drinking sufficient water, wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and seeking a cooling breeze.

Heatstroke occurs when the body’s sweating mechanisms are exhausted. It loses its ability to produce heat-dissipating sweat, causing an inability to regulate internal temperatures. This condition quickly leads to fevers and potential damage to internal organs.

Not everyone reacts to heat in the same way, and signs of heatstroke can come too slowly to be an effective warning. Be alert for symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, headache, nausea, fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and confusion.

Pay close attention to dry skin following periods of extreme sweating, as well as an increase in any of the indicators of heatstroke.

Act fast to lessen the danger

Immediate and adequate medical attention is crucial once severe heat stress or heatstroke sets in. Prolonged high body temperature significantly increases the risk of dangerous health complications.

It is essential that body temperature is reduced as immediately and rapidly as possible.

You must move an affected person out of the hot environment, especially if it is in direct sunlight, to a cool, shady area. Use wet cloths and fanning to cool them down, and where possible, loosen or remove clothing. It is essential that you notify workplace health and safety personnel and call emergency services if necessary.

Your employer’s duty

Employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment, which includes monitoring and managing the risks associated with working in hot and humid environments.

New state government construction projects and worksites not under the BPICs must still be safe, and workers have the right to cease work in unsafe conditions.

As a minimum, employers must ensure workers are supplied with equipment to protect them from hot and humid environments. This can include supplying hats, sunscreen, shade, hydration stations and adequate break times to ensure safety. Employers must also have a plan to respond adequately to unsafe heat-related incidents.

For further information, WorkSafe Queensland has published facts about heat stress, including a link to an online heat stress calculator that can help assess potential heat-related dangers in the workplace.

We’re here to help

If you believe you have suffered a heat-related injury or your worksite’s failure to protect against heat injury has caused you harm, you may be entitled to compensation.

Contact us to talk to one of our experienced lawyers about your rights and entitlements, or use our free claim check tool to find out if you’re eligible.