Sun and heat exposure 

Workplace health and safety regulators are urging employers to create heat management plans, in collaboration with health and safety representatives and workers, to protect their people from the risks associated with rising summer temperatures. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body overheats due to strenuous work, with symptoms ranging from dehydration, fainting, and heat rash to more severe conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 

Australia also leads the world in skin cancer rates, with over 95% caused by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. According to our partners the Cancer Council, outdoor workers are at greater risk of developing skin cancer than indoor workers as they’re exposed to up to 10 times more UV compared to indoor workers. It is estimated that around 200 melanomas and 34,000 non-melanoma skin cancers per year are caused by occupational exposures in Australia. * 

*cancercouncil.org.au 

What employers can do: 

• Use SafeWork NSW’s Heat Management Plan and SeasonalSAFE tool for guidance 

• View resources from the Cancer Council including: 

• A dedicated webpage on ‘Workplaces and Sun Protection’ for free and printable resources to help plan, implement, and review sun safety measures at work.  

• A literature review on ‘Sun Safety and outdoor workers: review of the literature on intervention effectiveness’ to better understand the importance of proactive sun safety measures.  

• A UV Risk Assessment checklist for outdoor workers.  

• Make sure workers understand risk control practices, have access to protective gear, and stay hydrated throughout the day. 

• Service air conditioning systems to ensure they perform effectively during summer. 

• Provide UPF 50+ sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and ensure workers apply SPF 50+ sunscreen regularly. 

Visit our heat safety news article for more tips and resources regarding protecting your people from heat exposure. 

Mental health

The festive season can be challenging for some employees, with feelings of anxiety or loneliness surfacing. As workers return, it’s important to foster a positive workplace culture and ensure they know about the mental health support your business provides. 

According to EML’s Mental Health White Paper, mental health conditions are a growing concern, accounting for an increasing share of workers’ compensation and personal injury claims with over 4 million Australian workers having reported a mental health condition lasting more than six months in 2022. 

What employers can do: 

• Read the Mental Health White Paper for insights into workplace mental health trends. 
• Use the Employer Checklist to drive honest conversations about what’s working, what’s missing, and what risk controls are needed to build or strengthen your mental health program. 
• Take advantage of the large range of free resources available through our online mental health centre.  

EML customers can also access mental health related support for their workplaces such as complimentary online and in person training services and provider discounts through our EML Offers.  

Manual handling injuries 

After a long break, our bodies naturally relax, making the return to work a critical time for injury prevention. Workers are more likely to experience body stressing injuries such as strains from lifting, carrying, or repetitive movements if they jump back in too quickly. 

What employers can do: 

• Remind workers to warm up before starting tasks and take regular breaks. 

• Encourage a gradual return to operational fitness rather than pushing too hard, too soon. 

• Share resources like our video series and practical tips to help prevent manual task injuries and proactively address musculoskeletal disorder risks. 

Remote worker safety 

Australia has a significant number of workers in flexible work arrangements and working remotely.

Ensure that workers working away from the office or normal workplace have the necessary training, tools and knowledge to identify risks and implement relevant risk controls.  

What employers can do: 

• For remote workers, especially those working from home – understand that there may be a period of easing in. Don’t expect peak productivity immediately, but start with small, manageable tasks to prioritise the activity and make people feel like they are achieving to help build their confidence.
• Cleaning up and creating space after Christmas and New Year is a good way to start the year. Try to sync decluttering in the office with time to declutter the remote workspace. A tidy and organised home office reduces distraction and improves mood.
• If it has been a while, have your worker complete a workplace hazard or risk assessment to ensure risks are controlled. Refer to SafeWork NSW for more guidance.
• Managers should stay well connected with remote teams to combat feelings of isolation and check how workers are coping with the return.
• For isolated workers who may have risk of OVA or illness, consider isolated worker safety monitoring and distress technology as a means of checking in or escalating for assistance (for example Duress Alarm or WorkSafe Guardian).
• Remote workers may need to be reminded to take mini-rest breaks for stretching, walking or getting water to combat fatigue from sitting again for long periods.

Start-up meetings  

Just like machinery needs recommissioning after downtime, your team benefits from a reset after the holiday break. Start-up meetings are a great way to re-focus on safety priorities, reconnect and engage on business goals. Consider your risk register and ask: 

• Is our business doing enough to identify, assess, and manage the WHS risks associated with these operational hazards? 

• Is there a systematic approach in place to control risk and review that our controls are working? 

What employers can do 

• Schedule start-up meetings to kick off the new year and re-engage your team. 

• Use these sessions to review safety controls, discuss priorities, and flag any poorly designed tasks. 
• Lock in a mid-year check-in to maintain momentum and ensure risk controls remain effective. 

Where to find more resources

It’s important to keep up to date on workplace health and safety legislation and best practice to ensure that you have the right procedures and protections in place for your business. 

Remember to regularly check for announcements from key industry bodies such as SafeWork NSW, the NSW State Regulatory Authority (SIRA), icare, WorkSafe Victoria, RTW SA and Safe Work Australia. 

Retail worker safety

Retail workers face unique challenges, especially during peak periods, including customer aggression, verbal abuse, and physical threats. These pressures can lead to psychological injuries, higher absenteeism, and increased worker compensation claims, highlighting the need for mental health programs and training to manage aggressive behaviour. 

What employers can do: 

• Explore our Retail Industry Reource page for practical guidance.  

• For Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) resources, access: 

• Research insights from our latest OVA projects 

• Practical tools and tips 

• A range of downloadable OVA posters 

• OVA Health Check

To find information, tools and training to support your workplace safety goals please visit our resources area and you can download Keith’s top tips here: 

Download Top WHS tips to start the year.