10 simple summer safety tips for your workplace

Indoor Workplace Summer Safety

• Any enclosed room or space should be well-ventilated.
• Proper air circulation is essential in keeping the room temperature consistent, so it does not exhaust you.
• Enclosed spaces also tend to get humid, so you should have fans or air coolers to regulate airflow.

• Wear light clothing, both in colour and material - it helps keep the body cool and is comfortable for doing activities.
• High-visibility jackets, t-shirts, cooling scarves and vests are also encouraged.

• Beware of machinery or equipment in an enclosed area – they can get overheated from prolonged running.
• Workers should wear proper safety gloves and glasses to avoid touching hot surfaces.
• Switch off your computer, laptop, or desktop when not in use this will prevent them from overheating and will also save power.

• Proper hydration goes a long way to keeping safe when working long hours in a hot environment.
• Avoid energy drinks, soft drinks and too much caffeine, instead, try drinks with essential electrolytes or water. 

• Workers transitioning indoors and outdoors, especially forklift operators, courier drivers or on foot, should wear shaded/tinted safety glasses to avoid eye fatigue and damage. This is important to acclimatise the eyes from dim rooms to the sun’s sudden bright glare and vice versa.

• Watch out for signs of exhaustion from heat stress in yourself and your colleagues, such as excessive sweating, feeling too hot, tiredness, dizziness, headache, slow reflexes, sore muscles etc.
• Take breaks to recharge your body and hydrate.

Outdoor Workplace Summer Safety

Working under the direct rays of the sun in summer can become less than ideal especially as we are witnessing record-high temperatures every year. Here are a few tips for working safely outdoors this summer.

7. Harmful UV rays:

• Summer sun can cause sunburn, and long-term exposure to UV radiation without sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing.
• The best practice would be to apply sunscreen before starting from home – keep a pocket size handy.
• For organisations, keep a stock of sunscreen available for staff.

• If you are working outdoors avoid dark and heavy clothing instead try clothing that can wick moisture away from the skin.
• Gear yourself with correct footwear, hats, proper gloves, and polaroid sunglasses.
• The correct clothing makes a huge difference in working comfortably under the direct sun and preventing heat stroke and exhaustion.
• It is important that this clothing and gear still maintain any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements of the worksite.

• Whether your work involves driving or commuting between home and the workplace – you should be aware of driving hazards caused by the sun.
• Your vehicle can become hot very quickly, the sun’s direct rays can tire your eyes, and a fatigued body affects safe driving.
• Use UV-ray-protected glasses to decrease strain on the eyes while driving when the sun is high and bright. 
• Ensure your vehicle is serviced and cool to prevent breakdowns.

• Keep a bottle of water by your side to drink, wash your face, hands and head and maintain a cool body temperature.
• If working on a site, mobile water stations (20L cans water coolers) are encouraged to be available for employees.

As we approach summer, safety and wellbeing at the workplace will be a collective effort of everyone working together. Report if you come across hazards, perform safety checks of the workplace, host a safety drill, and get the team involved in building a strong, safe work culture.

Check out our Safety & First Aid page for all your workplace safety needs. 

¹https://niwa.co.nz/climate/sea-surface-temperature-update/sea-surface-temperature-forecast-november-2023-april-2024

OfficeMax’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager Rima Urangia has over 20 years of experience working in Aviation, Chemicals Manufacture, Industrial Gases, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), local government and forestry.

Rima has done a Master of Management with an endorsement in Occupational Safety and Health. He is an Accredited Professional Member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) and a Registered Health and Safety Practitioner with the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ).