WHS prep for summer
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 7, 3 October 2025, page no 22.
Queensland’s summers provide known foreseeable hazards related to weather events, with two of the most common hazards being heat and mould.
In relation to the management of mould and heat, the Department of Education (the department) has the primary duty of care under the section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to manage foreseeable risks to the health and safety of its employees and others, including students, so far as is reasonably practicable (s18).
To meet this duty, the department must ensure:
- “s19 (3) (a) the provision and maintenance of a work environment without risk to health and safety”
- “(c) the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work”
- “(g) that the health and safety of workers and the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing illness and injury of workers arising from the conduct of the business or undertaking.”
There is also a legislated duty to consult with workers on WHS matters (s47-49). Therefore, each workplace needs to proactively manage the work environment so that heat and mould pose no risk, as far as reasonably practicable; embedding safe systems of work to monitor, report and respond to these two summer hazards.
Heat
Working in heat is a known hazard. The human body must maintain a normal temperature to be healthy. Hot conditions, whether inside or outside, can trigger heat-related illness, as the body has to work too hard to keep cool. It is important to be aware of the weather, the micro-climates in schools, and activities being carried out and where they are occurring, such as in assembly areas and halls.
While proactive steps may ensure most people are not unduly affected by days of high heat, risk factors such as age, ill health, chronic illnesses, medications, pregnancy, and being unacclimatised to heat can negatively impact upon individuals, including students. The physical and cognitive demands of the work can also pose an additional risk, with heat-triggered fatigue posing a foreseeable risk to judgement-making.
Safe Work Australia (SWA) produces great materials, including an excellent “Working in Heat” infographic and “Potential Risks of Working in Heat” fact sheet. The SWA “Guide for Managing the Risks of Working in Heat” is a great resource as well. These resources (click here) can effectively support a school WHS committee in proactively considering the risk in the context of its workplace. Work Health and Safety Queensland’s website (click here) also has resources on managing the hazard of heat. The department’s “excessive heat” information is useful, but its focus is on patterns of heat, which does not take into account the foreseeable impact of high heat, often coupled with high humidity, on people in schools.
Mould
Over the past two years, the QTU has been inundated with safety issues related to the department’s mould management. Mould is a recognised hazard and should never be seen as just part of living in Queensland. While many people may not be impacted by mould, staff, and students with allergies, weakened immunity, or chronic illnesses (especially respiratory illnesses) can be seriously affected. Not all mould is visible, so musty, earthy smells need to be seen as signs of mould. The department has a primary duty of care to ensure effective, proactive management of buildings, landscapes, and resources to eliminate or minimise the risk of mould growth.
The QTU has called for the department to ensure effective proactive management of mould, noting that (not surprisingly) Queensland’s climate increases the likelihood of mould activity, with the summer vacation posing a significant risk, given foreseeable high rainfall/high humidity and the fact that schools are closed and locked up. Summer storms and flooding can lead to water damaged buildings, which may not be found until mid-January, by when mould has taken hold.
The department has informed the QTU that it plans to communicate with schools during Term 4. This communication will highlight the prevalence of mould and how to respond if there is an infestation. The department provides direction on mould cleaning.
Both heat and mould management are hazards that should be listed on the school’s WHS Committee agenda, so that proactive consideration can be given to them.