Working in the heat: exposure duties for Victorian factories

What are the heat stress rules for Victorian workplaces?

There's no single temperature at which Victorian law says a factory must stop work. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic), employers must provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, so far as reasonably practicable — and in hot weather, that means identifying heat hazards, assessing the risk, and putting controls in place before conditions become dangerous for your crew.

Is there a legal maximum temperature for factories in Victoria?

No. WorkSafe Victoria confirms there is no maximum temperature set under the OHS Act 2004 or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 that automatically triggers a stop-work. Some workplaces set their own internal policy — for example, a trigger temperature at which supervisors review work arrangements — but this is a workplace decision, not a legislated threshold. That doesn't reduce the employer's duty: the general duty to manage risk "so far as is reasonably practicable" still applies on every hot day, regardless of what number is on the thermometer.

For manufacturers, that usually means treating heat as a hazard to be assessed like any other — noise, manual handling, chemical exposure — rather than waiting for a specific temperature to be reached.

What must an employer actually do?

WorkSafe Victoria's guidance sets out practical controls employers should consider, grouped around the task, the environment and the person:

1. Reschedule hot work to the cooler part of the day, or move it to a different, cooler location.
2. Reduce time spent on hot tasks and share the load across more workers.
3. Use mechanical aids to cut down physical exertion during hot periods.
4. Provide extra rest breaks in a cool, shaded area.
5. Improve airflow with air conditioning, fans, or exhaust ventilation to remove heat or steam from hot equipment.
6. Block radiant heat using shade cloth, blinds or curtains, and move hot equipment away from where people work.
7. Give workers ready access to cool drinking water, and electrolyte drinks where appropriate.
8. Monitor conditions and monitor your people — check in on workers for signs of heat illness, particularly during heatwaves.

Workers have a role too: wearing light clothing that still provides adequate protection, using hats and sun protection outdoors, and drinking water regularly — WorkSafe recommends every 15 minutes — even before thirst kicks in.

What are the signs of heat illness to watch for?

Recognising the early signs lets you act before a worker's condition becomes serious.

Heat exhaustion	Heat stroke (medical emergency)
Dizziness, headache	Red, hot, dry skin
Sweaty skin, weakness	Intense thirst, headache
Cramps, nausea or vomiting	Nausea or vomiting
Fast, weak pulse	High temperature, confusion or dizziness
	Convulsions or fainting

If a worker shows these symptoms, get them resting in a cool, well-ventilated area with cool fluids. If symptoms don't improve quickly, or their skin is hot and dry to touch, treat it as an emergency and seek urgent medical help.

How does this fit with national guidance?

Safe Work Australia's national guidance on working in heat reinforces the same risk management process Victorian employers already use for other hazards: identify what could go wrong, assess the likelihood and severity, then implement the most effective controls reasonable in the circumstances. It's a useful cross-check for manufacturers who operate across state lines, even though Victoria manages the legal duty through the OHS Act 2004 rather than the model WHS laws used elsewhere.

Where this fits in your broader safety system

For a lot of Victorian manufacturers, heat risk is seasonal and easy to deprioritise until the first 40-degree day of summer catches everyone out. Building it into your existing risk register — with a named person responsible for checking the forecast, briefing supervisors and confirming water and shade are in place — tends to work better than an ad hoc response each heatwave. If your business doesn't have a safety manager on call to own that process, a site assessment can help identify where your current heat controls have gaps before the weather tests them; you can book a site assessment with Ardmor's team at https://ardmor.com.au/book-audit.

FAQ

Is there a legal maximum temperature for stopping work in Victoria? No. WorkSafe Victoria confirms there's no maximum temperature set under the OHS Act 2004 or the OHS Regulations 2017. Some workplaces set an internal policy trigger, but the legal duty is to manage the risk so far as reasonably practicable, not to hit a specific number.

What's the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? Heat exhaustion causes dizziness, sweating, weakness and cramps. Heat stroke is more serious — red, hot, dry skin, confusion, high temperature and possible convulsions or fainting — and needs urgent medical attention.

Who is responsible for managing heat risk in a factory? The employer holds the general duty under the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) to provide a safe working environment so far as reasonably practicable, which extends to heat hazards. Workers also have duties, including staying hydrated and reporting symptoms early.

This article is general information for Victorian manufacturers, not legal advice. Last updated: 10 August 2026.