<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A peak union body is pushing for a new national safety standard to allow </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/trade" rel="" target="" title="tradies"><span>tradies</span></a><span> and other workers to automatically stop work when it gets too hot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australian Council of Trade Unions"><span>Australian Council of Trade Unions</span></a><span> is arguing frequent heatwaves driven by climate change pose a major workplace health and safety threat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the union body hasn't specified a temperature threshold, the CFMEU in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> has proposed construction workers should stop work when the temperature hits 35 degrees or 29 degrees when the humidity hits 70 per cent.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-news-south-east-australia-on-alert-for-high-to-extreme-fire-danger/74532cf0-0bc0-4ec8-827c-ec3fe0238d55" rel="" target="" title="Scorching heat and high winds trigger extreme fire danger warnings"><strong><span>Scorching heat and high winds trigger extreme fire danger warnings</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/growing-calls-to-name-heatwaves/80cf3447-0fc9-4eee-ab7d-d1f0d94ce7d9"><strong><span>Call to name 'silent killer' claiming Australian lives</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile the Master Builders Association is arguing there shouldn't necessarily be a threshold but rather control measures including better shade, hydration, designated cool down areas and scheduled rest breaks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/law" rel="" target="" title="current workplace laws"><span>current workplace laws</span></a><span>, heat is treated under general </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/workplace" rel="" target="" title="workplace risks"><span>workplace risks</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/heat-rule-australian-council-of-trade-unions-leads-push-for-tradies-to-stop-work-in-extreme-heat/7c21be95-9e1d-4e0a-aab2-bd8eec99867d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No worker should be told to push through the brutal heat and risk their own life," ACTU President Michele O'Neil said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When it's dangerously hot, your boss should either change your work or stop your work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A rest break or work stoppage in extreme heat can be the difference between a worker going home safe or not going home at all."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-fastest-growing-jobs-revealed-ai/6d1bee9f-fd9e-4b68-a0c3-5f2c8a086f4a" rel="" target="" title="AI dominates as Australia's fastest-growing jobs revealed"><strong><span>AI dominates as Australia's fastest-growing jobs revealed</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/work-habits-linked-to-dangerous-drinking-levels/94fdff7e-e1de-487b-ad67-bd1bb002249b"><strong><span>How your job influences how much alcohol you drink</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'Neil said </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/heatwave" rel="" target="" title="extreme heat"><span>extreme heat</span></a><span> should be regulated in the same way as asbestos and silica.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no excuse for Australia to leave workers exposed without clear, enforceable rules, especially when the government's own reports project heat-related deaths to more than quadruple in our major cities," O'Neil said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The science tells us that heatwaves are getting worse, but our regulations haven't caught up," O'Neil said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you get sick from working in extreme heat, it should be treated like any other workplace injury, and that means workers' compensation coverage, so you can focus on getting better, instead of worrying about paying the bills."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A 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