Heat Stress and How to Avoid It
Heat stress is a buildup of body heat generated either internally by muscle use or externally by the environment. In other words, the body is under stress from overheating. Most people think only of heat stress occurring in the hot summer months. The truth is heat stress can occur year-round in foundries, kitchens, factories, and warehouses.
It is important to be aware of occupational risk factors for heat stress, which could include environmental conditions such as high temperature and humidity, exposure to direct sunlight, and no breeze or wind. Other risk factors include heavy physical activity, not drinking enough water, lack of acclimatization which is when a worker is not given the opportunity for their body to gradually adapt and tolerate higher levels of heat stress, and wearing clothing that holds in body heat. Some workers are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Personal risk factors include medical conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure, age, being overweight and degree of physical fitness, previous episodes of heat-related illness, alcohol consumption, use of drugs, and certain medication. All of these affect a person’s sensitivity to heat.
Understanding heat stress starts with understanding how your body copes with heat. The human body tries to maintain a constant internal temperature. When the internal temperature rises, the body attempts to get rid of excess heat by releasing sweat onto skin surface and increasing blood flow to skin surface. When these two body cooling mechanisms work well, your core body temperature drops and can stabilize to a safe level. Problems develop when the body’s cooling mechanisms do not work properly.
Heat-related illnesses include heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope (or fainting), heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Heat rash being a mild medical condition easily treated with first aid to heat exhaustion which could progress to heat stroke which is a dangerous medical emergency and could be fatal
Heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Prevention requires employers and workers to recognize heat hazards. Heat-related illnesses can be prevented by:
Taking extra precautions to ensure new workers are acclimatized before they work in a hot environment.
Training supervisors and workers to control and recognize heat hazards.
Determining, for each worker throughout each workday, whether total heat stress is too high, both from the conditions of that day and recognizing carryover effect possibilities.
Implementing engineering and administrative controls to reduce heat stress.
Providing sufficient water, rest, and shade. In fact, water, rest, shade is the catch phrase of OSHA’s annual Heat Illness Prevention Campaign.
Staying hydrated by drinking lots of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages, even if you're not thirsty.
Wearing lightweight clothing.
When working outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect against direct sunlight.
Being on the lookout for warning signs and symptoms in yourself and co-workers.
ACS has developed a new training program that goes into detail of reducing heat-related health issues. Contact us for more information.