With a blistering Queensland summer on the horizon, the WBBHS Public Health team are tackling the burn with a cool approach.
New refined and targeted messaging is on its way to ensuring the safety and welfare of fruit pickers and farmers working in the unyielding heat. With soaring temperatures presenting a considerable risk to those working in the fields, the Public Health team recognised the imperative to step in and take proactive measures.
The team decided to launch a multi-faceted approach that included informational pamphlets, posters, and engaging social media content. They partnered with local farmers, fruit-picking communities and short stay accommodation around the region to ensure that their campaign would reach with the target audience.
The project coincides with a new directive that from November 2023, Queensland Health has become the primary agency for managing heatwaves under the State Disaster Management Plan.
The informational pamphlets will feature clear instructions on heat safety measures, types and signs of heat-related illness and what to during a heat wave.
Environmental Health Officer Ainsley Harch hope these pamphlets become essential references for both seasoned farmers and new recruits entering the agricultural workforce.
“Unfortunately in the Wide Bay we see people not taking the danger of hot conditions seriously,” she said.
“People often wrongly assume that because they are young or fit they will not be affected by these extreme and prolonged temperatures.
“We need everyone in the region to understand every body overheats and they need to be proactive in their own care.”