HeatStress//21

Preparation and getting ahead of the game are the key messages to come out of the Heat Stress Awareness programme delivered to the Santos workforce in the field.

There is no doubt that much of the Santos workforce is employed in some of the harshest conditions in Australia. Whether it be the Moomba gas fields in the Cooper Basin, or in eastern Queensland’s Surat and Bowen Basins, the environment can be inhospitable, the work demanding, and the climate brutal.

Remaining fit and healthy in these conditions can be a challenge, with heat stress presenting a significant and potentially dangerous threat to workers’ health and well-being. To prepare all personnel for the conditions they will face and the ways in which they can guard against heat stress in themselves and their workmates, Santos has been delivering a Heat Stress Awareness programme available to all employees.

The online programmes, which are mandatory for all Santos employees and contractors working in the field, are designed to help the workforce understand how heat stress occurs, the serious health risk it poses, ways to be prepared, and what to do if a workmate becomes ill as a result.

WHAT IS HEAT STRESS?Heat stress can come about from a combination of the demanding nature of work in the field and the harsh environments in which it takes place. It occurs when the body is subjected to a combination of external and internal factors that prevent its normal cooling mechanisms, such as the evaporation of sweat, from operating efficiently. As a result, heat is absorbed by the body faster than it can be lost, and this then leads to a significant rise in body temperature from its normal state of around 37°C.

The factors that can contribute to this sharp rise include the external temperature and humidity levels, the radiant temperature of the surroundings (e.g., the amount of heat being produced by machinery, or reflected off rocks and hard surfaces), and the type of clothing being worn. Likewise, the nature and degree of physical activity being undertaken is also a significant contributing factor, as is age and overall physical health.

It can’t be emphasised enough that heat stress is a life-threatening condition, and as it can lead to a person being confused and unable to think logically and safely, it presents a real

danger not only in itself, but also because a sufferer may as a consequence unwittingly put themselves into dangerous or unsafe work situations.

Chris Smith, Clinical Nurse at the Moomba Health Centre recalls an incident where two Santos workers came across a truck driver at the side of the road changing a flat tyre.

“The driver reacted pretty aggressively to their offers to help him,” said Christopher, “and so they thought they’d keep an eye on him. He was clearly frustrated, using the wrong tools, and getting angry.”

“The two Santos employees, recognising the signs of heat stress, went to help him again, but he just threw down his tools and started to walk off into the bush. Luckily, they were able to convince him to come back and sit down in the shade and take some fluids on board. But this just shows how heat stress can lead to poor decision-making, with potentially dangerous consequences.”

Kim Keane, Santos Corporate Safety Adviser

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measures are in place and facilities up to scratch so that workers can operate in safety.

Kim Keane, Santos’ Corporate Safety Adviser, has developed the programme to its current state through a process of revision and consultation, with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who pioneered heat stress training for workers in the Cooper Basin, playing an integral part in the programme’s formulation and development. The RFDS continue to work in partnership with Santos and their experience in dealing with heat stress patients has been invaluable.

“The programme is now being undertaken by more people than ever before,” says Kim. When it started, we delivered the course face to face in the Cooper Basin but now, by using the web portal, we are able to ensure that every worker in the field, wherever they may be, has been exposed to the training.

“This has the added benefit of a consistency of message, and as a result we have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of heat stress incidents in the field. We have also been able to adapt the message to take account of site-specific conditions, such as the additional humidity that workers encounter in eastern

Queensland, which isn’t necessarily a problem in Moomba.”

The statistics bear out the overwhelming success of the programme. In the 12 months July 1998-June 1999, there were 21 serious heat stress incidents recorded (a serious incident being classified as a patient requiring intervention using an intravenous drip), and this had fallen to only five in 2012-13 , with no incidents at all being reported in 2004-06, 2007-09 and 2010-11.

“Our target remains zero incidents every year,” says Kim, “and so the small spike in 2012-13 led to our making further refinements to the programme, such as the introduction of the separate Leader component to the course.”

“We have also stepped up the promotion of heat stress awareness every day on site, but in particular on Red Alert Days when the temperature is forecast to be in excess of 40°C. With this combination of enhanced training and heightened awareness, we would expect to see no incidents at all recorded during the upcoming summer.”

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OR SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS?

There are some clear signs to watch out for that indicate a workmate is suffering from the early signs of heat stress:• difficulty in thinking clearly• slurred speech• change in behaviour or demeanour• irritability• painful muscles spasms or cramps

(often at the end of the work day)• heavy sweating• dizziness or fainting• headache• nausea• vomiting

It should be noted that not all of these symptoms are physical. This is because heat stress impacts on mental performance before it manifests itself physically.

SANTOS’ HEAT STRESS AWARENESS PROGRAMMEThe serious health risk it poses has led to Santos developing a Heat Stress Awareness programme that advises all workers in the field about how to combat, recognise and respond to heat stress.

The programme, which first began about ten years ago and has been constantly refreshed and revised, is designed to equip all personnel with the knowledge to enable them to reduce the incidence of heat stress on site. The course has been delivered to over 15,000 people in the last year, and continues to produce extremely positive and encouraging results.

The course is delivered online and has also been used by the Army and the CFS. It is mandatory for anyone working in the field, including contractors, and as such delivers a consistent message for the whole workforce nationwide and beyond.

There is an extensive new starters component to the programme, which introduces the concept of heat stress to those new to working in the field, as it is recognised that workers unfamiliar with the climatic conditions and how to manage themselves and their workload are likely to be the most vulnerable. There is also a separate programme for leaders that outlines their responsibilities when it comes to the health and well-being of the workforce, and what they are required to do in preparation to ensure that

Robin Davies and Lee Bawden fill up their

water bottles at the ice machine

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KEY MESSAGES The key messages that the training programme seeks to instil are the value of preparation for working in a harsh environment, and that planning and getting ahead of the game by all personnel is essential to preventing cases of heat stress.

A key aim of the training is to ensure that all workers understand and appreciate the significance of Red Alert Days. On these days, the risk of heat stress is heightened and so increased awareness by all members of the workforce is vital. Red Alert Days are notified via email, work permits are stamped with the message, while red signs and flags are also on display on site and around the camp to ensure that everyone is aware of the increased danger and makes their preparations accordingly.

The course also teaches to ‘hydrate today for tomorrow’, and about the importance of hydrating before returning to or starting work. Workers are encouraged to cut down on alcohol and caffeine consumption a day or two prior to returning to site, and to accompany this with an increased intake of water.

However, the programme also emphasises that preparation doesn’t stop once someone is back at work, and that being prepared to work safely is an ongoing process. In order to reinforce this, the essence of this preparation message has been distilled down to 3Rs:

• Regular drinks - the programme highlights how vital it is for field workers to drink small amounts of water every 15-20 minutes, irrespective of whether they feel thirsty. The aim should be to drink at least 1 litre of water every hour when working in hot conditions (6-9 litres a day), especially on Red Alert Days.

• Regular breaks - a key element to Heat Stress Awareness is understanding the importance of regular breaks, through sharing heavy tasks and spending time sitting out of the sun, as these are vital for allowing the body’s cooling mechanisms to function efficiently.

• Reschedule work - on Red Alert Days, workers are encouraged to plan their workload and schedule so that the most demanding tasks are performed either early in the morning or late in the day when the temperature is cooler, as a means of reducing the time they are exposed to the harshest working conditions.

The Heat Stress Awareness programme also teaches personnel about the importance of the Buddy System when working on site. The course teaches workers what to look out for in workmates, and asks all personnel to encourage each other to take regular breaks and keep up fluid intake. Working with a buddy is vital as an early warning system for recognising and treating the onset of heat stress, as very often a sufferer will not be aware that they are displaying any symptoms, and when they do realise, it may be too late.

Chris Smith sees the effectiveness of the Buddy System on site on a regular basis. “I’m amazed at the improvements that have taken place over the last ten years or so,” he said.

“There has been a real change in the culture up here. The way teams operate now, they’re quick to recognise when a colleague could be feeling the heat, and so everyone in the team will take a break in the cool room, drink some water and take some time to rest. Ten years ago, that would never have happened. Heat stress awareness and the Buddy System are absolutely a part of the culture now, and Santos should be congratulated on the way they’ve delivered and reinforced this message.”

Moomba EHS Advisers

Matthew Laing

and Simon Smith

TAKING THE PROGRAMME HOMEFor Kim Keane, there is an added bonus to the Heat Stress Awareness training, and that is Santos workers taking their knowledge, skills and expertise home with them to their families and the wider community.

“It’s important for everyone to understand that heat stress isn’t just a risk on site,” says Kim. “In an Australian summer, the dangers are there at the beach and on holiday, when you’re involved in sporting activities, or even

undertaking some home renovation. The lessons that you learn at work are just as applicable at home, and preparing properly for extreme hot weather could save the life of a family member, friend or colleague.”

With a number of Santos employees also being CFS members or part of other volunteer organisations, increased knowledge about preventing heat stress is also spreading to the wider community and, with summer looming, the key messages of the Heat Stress Awareness programme are something that we can all benefit from.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU NOTICE A WORKMATE SHOWING SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS?

If your buddy or a workmate appears to be suffering from heat stress, there are important steps that can and need to be taken quickly: • remove them from the workplace• find a cool and shaded area

(ideally air-conditioned)• remove outer clothing, such as

hard hat, boots, shirt, etc.• encourage them to drink cool

(but not ice cold) water• fan vigorously to aid evaporation• seek medical assistance

Moomba Emergency

Services Officers

Daryl Stichel and

Michael Mutch

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