What does my employer have to do about working in heat?

Under the WHS Act general duty (s19), your employer must manage the risk of heat-related illness so far as is reasonably practicable. Safe Work Australia's guidance “Managing the risks of working in heat” sets out controls: rescheduling the hottest or heaviest work to cooler times, more frequent rest breaks in the shade or air-conditioning, providing cool drinking water, letting workers acclimatise, providing cooler clothing or PPE options, monitoring conditions and workers, and having a plan to respond to heat illness. The hotter and harder the conditions, the stronger the controls expected.

Can I stop work if it is too hot?

Possibly. There is no automatic temperature at which you can down tools, but where heat creates a serious risk to your health from an immediate or imminent exposure — for example signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, or conditions the controls are not keeping on top of — a worker may cease unsafe work under the model WHS Act (s84), stay paid, and be protected from reprisal. Use the Refuse Unsafe Work checker to see whether your situation meets that threshold.

What about outdoor and construction work in the heat?

Outdoor and construction work carries a higher heat risk because of direct sun and radiant heat, heavy physical work, and often heat-trapping PPE — all of which add to the body's heat load. The same general duty (s19) applies: the employer must manage the risk, which in hot weather can mean starting earlier, rotating tasks, increasing rest in the shade, providing water and cooling, and being ready to reschedule or pause work in extreme heat. There is still no fixed cut-off temperature on a construction site.

How is heat-stress risk assessed at work?

Heat risk is multi-factor, not a single thermometer reading. The Safe Work Australia heat guidance lists the factors to weigh: air temperature, humidity (high humidity stops sweat cooling you), radiant heat or direct sun, air movement, how physically hard the work is, clothing and PPE, and worker factors such as fitness, acclimatisation, age and health. This tool combines those factors into a low, moderate, high or extreme risk rating and sets out the controls that should be in place — as a guide, not a definitive ruling.

Too Hot to Work? Heat Stress Rights Checker

Q: Is there a legal maximum temperature to work in Australia?

No. There is no fixed legal maximum temperature in Australia at which work must stop. It is a common myth that the law forces work to stop at a set number of degrees. Instead, the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (s19) requires your employer (the PCBU) to manage the risk of heat-related illness so far as is reasonably practicable, taking into account air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, air movement, how hard the work is, clothing and PPE, and worker factors. The legal test is whether the risk is being controlled, not how many degrees it is.

Work out your heat-stress risk and your employer's duty to manage working in heat under WHS law — no fixed legal maximum temperature.

Last verified: 21 June 2026

There is no fixed legal maximum temperature in Australia at which work must stop — that is a myth. Heat is managed as a risk under the WHS Act general duty (s19): your employer must manage the risk of heat-related illness so far as is reasonably practicable, weighing temperature, humidity, radiant heat, work intensity and PPE. This tool rates your heat-related risk, sets out the controls that should be in place, and explains when extreme heat may become a cease-unsafe-work situation.

There is no fixed legal maximum work temperature in Australia.

The law does not stop work at a set number of degrees. Instead your employer must manage the risk of heat-related illness so far as is reasonably practicable. This tool rates the risk and sets out the controls that should be in place.

Describe your working conditions

Pick the closest option for each. There are no exact figures to get right — heat risk is about the combination of conditions, not one number. Your answers stay in your browser.

1. Are you working indoors or outdoors?

Construction, landscaping, farming, delivery, road work, events.

2. Roughly how hot is the air?

3. How humid is it?

High humidity stops sweat evaporating, so your body cannot cool itself as well.

4. Direct sun / shade

5. How physical is the work?

Harder work makes your body generate more of its own heat.

6. Are you wearing heavy or heat-trapping clothing or PPE?

For example coveralls, chemical suits, fire gear or a respirator that stops your body shedding heat.

High heat risk — strong controls needed

High risk

On the conditions you described, there is a high risk of heat-related illness. Your employer should be applying strong controls — rescheduling, more frequent rest in the cool, close monitoring — and be prepared to change or stop the work if it cannot be done safely.

What is driving this rating

Very high air temperature (around 35–39°C).
Moderate humidity, which reduces how well sweating cools you.
Direct sun / radiant heat with little or no shade.
Moderate physical work, which adds to your body's heat load.

What your employer should have in place

Reschedule, rotate or slow the work so no one is over-exposed; reduce the pace and physical demand.
Increase rest in the cool and consider a buddy system so workers watch each other for symptoms.
Review clothing and PPE — provide lighter or cooling options where it can be done without losing protection.
Have a plan to respond to heat illness, including first aid and how to get help fast.
Schedule the hottest or heaviest work for the cooler parts of the day where possible.
Build in more frequent rest breaks in a cool place as conditions get hotter.
Monitor conditions (temperature, humidity, radiant heat) and the workers, not just the forecast.
Provide cool drinking water close to the work and encourage regular small drinks.
Give somewhere shaded or air-conditioned to take breaks and cool down.
Let workers acclimatise — ease new or returning workers into hot conditions over several days.
Train workers and supervisors to recognise the early signs of heat illness and what to do.

No fixed legal maximum temperature

There is no fixed legal maximum temperature in Australia at which work must stop. It is a common myth that the law forces work to stop at a set number of degrees — it does not. Instead, the law requires your employer (the PCBU) to manage the risk of heat-related illness so far as is reasonably practicable, taking into account air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, air movement, how hard the work is, clothing and PPE, and worker factors. The right question is not how hot it is, but whether the risk is being properly controlled.

When it may become a cease-work situation

Heat can become a cease-work situation. Where working in the heat creates a serious risk to your health from an immediate or imminent exposure — for example signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, or conditions that controls are not keeping on top of — a worker may cease unsafe work under the WHS Act, stay paid and be protected from reprisal. Check whether your situation meets that threshold with the Refuse Unsafe Work checker.

Check your right to cease unsafe work

The law: Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 s19 (the PCBU's primary duty to ensure the health and safety of workers so far as is reasonably practicable) and Safe Work Australia's guidance “Managing the risks of working in heat”. Victoria runs its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, but the same general-duty principle applies — there is no fixed maximum work temperature there either.

This is general information about managing the risk of working in heat under work health and safety law, not legal advice, and it does not decide your situation. Heat-related risk depends on the specific conditions, the work and the worker. If you are unsure, or you believe your workplace is not managing heat safely, talk to your health and safety representative, your WHS regulator, your union or a workplace lawyer.

If extreme heat is putting you at serious, immediate risk, check whether you can cease unsafe work — you stay paid and protected from reprisal. For the full set of work health and safety tools, browse the Safety Hub.

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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.

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