Heat stress includes a series of conditions where the body is under stress from overheating. Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, or heat stroke, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Symptoms can range from profuse sweating to dizziness, cessation of sweating, and collapse.
On August 30, 2024, OSHA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. This is a significant step toward a federal heat standard to protect workers. The proposed standard would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction. The standard would require employers to create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace. It would clarify employer obligations and the steps necessary to effectively protect employees from hazardous heat. The ultimate goal is to prevent and reduce the number of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities caused by exposure to hazardous heat.
What Supervisors Can Do
- Allow time for employees to adjust to hot jobs when possible. It often takes two to three weeks for an employee to acclimate to a hot environment.
- Adjust the work schedule, if possible. Assign heavier work on cooler days or during the cooler part of the day.
- Reduce the workload. Increase the use of equipment on hot days to reduce physical labor.
- Establish a schedule for work and rest periods during hot days.
- In certain high-heat situations, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and other regulatory bodies recommend 20-minute breaks instead of the traditional 15-minute breaks. This adjustment is intended to allow workers more time to recover from heat exposure, particularly when temperatures are high and work demands are strenuous.
- Train workers to recognize signs and symptoms of heat stress disorders and be prepared to give first aid if necessary. Heat-related Illness Training is available.
- Choose appropriate employees: Avoid placing “high-risk” employees in hot work environments for extended periods. Realize individual employees vary in their tolerance to heat stress conditions.
What Employees Can Do
- Learn to recognize the symptoms of heat stress. Pace the work, taking adequate rest periods (in shade or a cooler environment).
- Use adequate fans for ventilation and cooling, especially when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Heat-related Illness Training is available.
- Wear light-colored, loose clothing (unless working around equipment with moving parts).
- Keep shaded from direct heat where possible (e.g., wear a hat in direct sunshine).
- Drink plenty of water: the body requires more water in hot environments.
Persons At Risk for Heat Stroke
At greatest risk of heat stroke are the elderly, children, and people with medical conditions, such as heart disease. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
Some employees are more likely to have heat disorders than others. Employees with heart, lung, or kidney disease, diabetes, and those on medications are more likely to experience heat stress problems. Diet pills, sedatives, tranquilizers, caffeinated drinks, and excessive alcohol consumption can all exacerbate heat stress effects.
Acclimate and Reacclimate
It often takes two to three weeks for employees to become acclimated to a hot environment. This acclimation can be lost in only a few days away from the heat. Thus, employees should be more cautious about heat stress after returning from a vacation, when beginning a new job, or during the season’s first heat wave.
- For new workers, the schedule should be no more than a 20% exposure on day 1 and an increase of no more than 20% on each additional day.
- For workers who have had previous experience with the job, the acclimatization regimen should be no more than a 50% exposure on day 1, 60% on day 2, 80% on day 3, and 100% on day 4.
In short, precautions should be taken any time temperatures are elevated (approaching 90 degrees F) and the job is physically demanding.
Behaviors That Increase Risk of Heat Stroke
Certain behaviors also put people at greater risk: drinking alcohol, taking part in strenuous outdoor physical activities in hot weather, and taking medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or inhibit perspiration. Heat stress can be induced by high temperatures, heavy workloads, and clothing inappropriate for the heat and humidity.
Signs of Heat Stress
The victim often overlooks the signs of heat stress. The individual may at first be confused or unable to concentrate, followed by more severe symptoms, such as fainting and/or collapsing.
First Aid for Heat Exposure – General Care
If heat stress symptoms occur:
- Move the person to a cooler environment with circulating air.
- Loosen and/or remove clothing.
- Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin or spray with cool water.
- Fan the person.
- If responsive and able to swallow, have them sip a cool electrolyte- and carbohydrate-containing fluid such as a sports drink, coconut water or milk.
- Offer water if these are not available.
- Prevent them from drinking too quickly.
- Have the person rest in a comfortable position.
- Continue checking them as appropriate to determine if additional care is needed.
- Give care for shock or dehydration, if necessary.
- Reassure person you will help, and EMS has been called (if appropriate).
- Watch for changes in condition, including breathing and responsiveness.
- If the condition does not improve, or if a person is unable to take fluids or has a change in level of responsiveness or vomits, call 9-1-1 and then give care:
- Stop giving fluids; place in the recovery position.
- Keep them lying down; continue steps to lower body temperature.
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of heat stroke, breathing problems or shock; give care as appropriate.
- Have them wait several hours after no more symptoms before resuming activity.
Spencer-SHE has been providing Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance Guidance since 1980. Our team can design custom training based on employee exposure(s) to working in heat conditions.
Contact us here to help you to develop and maintain a safe and healthy workforce.
Sources:
Photo: Microsoft Stock
https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure
https://www.osha.gov/heat https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/learn-first-aid/heat-exhaustion?srsltid=AfmBOopnjGKE_vfh4UuPbFxQ_vgr-RLfR28VCchSwsUSxNAy6WVXIRYN