SHZ and Support for Workers in Extreme Weather Events

Category: SHZ and OH&S
Date: 21 November 2025

1. Introduction

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate instability. Heatwaves, cold snaps, storms, flooding, bushfire smoke, and severe humidity place enormous physiological stress on workers, especially those in night-shift, outdoor, essential, and high-pressure roles. These conditions dramatically increase risk of heat illness, hypothermia, dehydration, respiratory strain, cognitive decline, and emotional instability.

NaturismRE affirms that Safe Health Zones (SHZ) are essential infrastructure for protecting workers during extreme weather events. SHZ provide cooling, heating, sensory calm, hydration, grounding, and structured recovery that help workers withstand and recover from environmental extremes.

Extreme weather is predictable. Preparedness requires SHZ.

2. Background

Workers exposed to extreme weather often suffer:

  • heat stress or heat stroke

  • dizziness and confusion

  • electrolyte loss

  • dehydration

  • cardiovascular overload

  • respiratory irritation from smoke or dust

  • cold-induced stiffness or numbness

  • emotional instability from discomfort

  • uniform and PPE heat trapping

  • immune system suppression

  • sensory overload from high winds or noise

  • circadian strain during night-time storms

These conditions create severe risks:

  • accidents

  • medical emergencies

  • impaired judgment

  • emotional breakdowns

  • increased conflict

  • transportation hazards

  • inability to perform essential duties

Traditional break rooms cannot mitigate these risks during weather extremes.

SHZ environments can.

3. The Official Position of NaturismRE

NaturismRE affirms that SHZ must be part of all workplace and council-level responses to extreme weather.

NaturismRE recognises that SHZ:

  1. provide passive or infrared cooling during heatwaves

  2. support hydration and reduce heat-driven collapse

  3. offer warm, energy-efficient infrared heating during cold snaps

  4. reduce respiratory strain through controlled air quality

  5. stabilise emotional responses during high-stress weather

  6. allow minimal clothing cooling when safe and necessary

  7. reduce inflammation and heart strain through grounding

  8. protect medically vulnerable workers from flare-ups

  9. reduce accidents and confusion caused by environmental extremes

NaturismRE rejects the idea that workers can remain safe during extreme weather without structured environmental recovery.

4. Evidence, Rationale and Supporting Arguments

Heatwaves increase mortality and error rates

SHZ cooling prevents heat-induced cognitive collapse.

Cold snaps reduce coordination and reaction time

Infrared SHZ heating preserves motor function.

Storms and high winds cause sensory overload

SHZ sensory calm stabilises emotional and neurological function.

Bushfire smoke damages respiratory health

Filtered-air SHZ reduce breathing strain.

PPE becomes extremely dangerous in heat

Minimal clothing SHZ zones reduce trapped heat.

Hydration prevents collapse

SHZ hydration reduces hospital admissions during heatwaves.

Grounding reduces inflammation from extreme conditions

Grounding supports physiological stability.

5. Social and Policy Implications

Workplaces

SHZ must be included in all extreme-weather safety plans.

Councils

Local governments must provide SHZ shelters during heatwaves, cold snaps, and emergencies.

National governments

Extreme-weather SHZ must be included in climate adaptation policies.

Emergency services

SHZ reduce collapse, confusion, and emotional overload after responding to crises.

Public health

SHZ lower rates of heat exhaustion, hypothermia, and smoke-related illness.

Economics

Prevented medical incidents reduce emergency and hospital costs.

6. Recommended Actions

NaturismRE recommends:

  1. SHZ integration into extreme-weather protocols

  2. minimal clothing cooling during heat events

  3. infrared warmth during cold snaps

  4. hydration stations in SHZ shelters

  5. air-quality monitoring and filtration

  6. grounding-friendly architecture

  7. OH&S mandates for extreme-weather worker safety

  8. council-level SHZ in high-density and high-risk zones

7. Conclusion

Extreme weather is increasingly common and dangerous. Workers exposed to high heat, severe cold, poor air quality, or environmental stress require structured recovery environments. Safe Health Zones provide cooling, warmth, hydration, sensory calm, and physiological reset that protect workers during climate extremes.

NaturismRE affirms that SHZ are essential for safeguarding workers and communities in an era of increasing environmental volatility.