Smoke from any types of fire (fire, brush, crop, structure, waste or wood burning) can contain a mixture of various sized particles, water, vapour and gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
Inhaling smoke for a short time can cause (acute) effects. These may include:
Itchy/burning eyes
Runny nose
Shortness of breath
Headaches
Irritated sinuses
Throat irritation
Cough
Inhaling smoke for an extended time for those with respiratory and cardiac diseases such as asthma, emphysema, angina and ischaemic heart disease can exacerbate their underlying conditions. The gases and fine particles produced can make existing respiratory diseases worse. Those workers may experience difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.
As workplace injuries and illnesses can occur at any time, the best way for companies to prepare for conditions with high outdoor pollution exposure is to have a risk management plan. This plan will aim to provide a safe work environment which includes:
Selection of the right workers for the job during times of high pollution exposure.
Being aware of weather warnings and forecasts.
Understanding the air quality indexes for the Australian state the worker resides in.
Providing personal protective equipment such as eye protection and correctly fitted P2 rated face masks.
Providing water and sun protection.
Workplaces must have measures in place to protect worker health and safety and manage risks.
Working in air pollution
Check your jurisdiction’s air quality index to determine the air quality where you’re working. If you have an air pollution sensitivity, particularly if combined with an underlying medical condition, you should advise your workplace and follow the advice of your GP or specialist physician.
Dust and smoke may:
reduce air quality and impact visibility
settle onto equipment and impact the functioning of plant and grip of surfaces, and
irritate the airway, nose and eyes.
Your workplace must have measures in place to manage the risks to health and safety when air quality is reduced, including:
working indoors (where possible)
rescheduling outdoor work until conditions (e.g. visibility and air quality) improve
ensuring plant is functioning correctly and has not been affected by dust or debris
once conditions improve, cleaning any dust and debris off outdoor surfaces, and
providing personal protective equipment such as eye protection and correctly fitted, P2 rated face masks.
Eliminating exposure to air pollution is the best protection.
Find out more
Detailed guidance in the model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities.
For guidance specific to your industry and workplace contact your WHS regulator.
Check out BOM for weather warnings and forecasts where you are working.
For information on air quality in your jurisdiction, check out your jurisdiction’s Air Quality Index.
Air Quality Indexes
Working near bushfires
You should be aware of any bushfires near your work area. Follow instructions and advice from emergency services and ensure you are able to evacuate the area if needed. Remain vigilant and immediately report any smoke or fires that you see. Your workplace must prepare and inform you of the procedures in the event of an emergency.
If you are working alone, ensure you have a means of communication with you at all times (e.g. a mobile phone). If you are working remotely or in an isolated place, your workplace must ensure you can be contacted and receive assistance in an emergency.
Ensure that your work does not increase the risk of starting or intensifying bush fires, particularly if you are working in rural or bushland areas. For example:
ensure that any carriers of flammable chemicals and liquids, such as fuel, are properly maintained to minimise the risk of unintentional leakage onto the ground, and
ensure you correctly dispose of litter, particularly cigarette butts.
Find out more
Detailed guidance in the model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities.
Detailed guidance in Managing risks of storing chemicals in the workplace.
For guidance specific to your industry and workplace contact your WHS regulator.
Check out BOM for weather warnings and forecasts where you are working.
If work becomes unsafe
In some circumstances you have a right to cease or refuse to carry out unsafe work. You have this right if you have a reasonable concern that you would be exposed to a serious risk to your health and safety from an immediate or imminent hazard. You must inform your workplace as soon as you can that you have ceased work. You must also be available to carry out suitable alternative work.
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) can direct a worker in their work group to cease unsafe work. HSRs can do this if:
they have a reasonable concern that a worker would be exposed to a serious risk to health and safety from an immediate or imminent hazard, and
they have already consulted and attempted to resolve the issue with the business or undertaking for whom the workers are carrying out work (unless the risk is so serious and immediate or imminent that it is not reasonable to consult first).
HSRs must inform the workplace of any direction that has been given to cease unsafe work. HSRs can only direct that unsafe work cease if they have completed their initial training under the model WHS laws.
Find out more
For general guidance, see the Worker Representation and Participation Guide.
For specific guidance on these rights, contact your WHS regulator.
For leave and employee entitlements see the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Information from WHS regulators
Your WHS regulator is responsible for enforcing and regulating WHS laws.
Find out more
Other resources
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