Heat Stress In The Workplace

Summer is upon us and employees and employers alike need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat stress in the workplace.

Heat stress in the workplace. Control 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. After all heat stress could cause serious bodily harm. Consider the following activity modifications also known as administrative controls.

Osha s technical manual otm section iii. An environmental heat stress index is one of the indicators of risk for heat injuries and should be used in conjunction with other factors to assess overall risk. Download and share safety talk presenter guide hazard alert. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty.

A federal agency collaboration that includes osha the national integrated heat health information system has also compiled a list of guidelines web pages and documents with information about keeping the public including workers safe in the heat. At those locations employers should modify work practices when heat stress is too high to work safely. Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Heat stress can result in heat stroke heat exhaustion heat cramps or heat rashes.

Beat the heat safety talk presentation beat the heat safety talk leader guide hazard alert. Therefore it may not be obvious to someone passing through the workplace that there is a risk of heat stress. Heat stress can be induced by high temperatures heavy work loads and clothing inappropriate for the heat and humidity. Heat stress can be a killer heat stress awareness guide.

Begin your risk assessment by talking to the workers involved and their safety representatives if there are any in your workplace to establish whether they are suffering early signs of heat. Heat related illnesses are cause for concern and with summer almost here it s time for a refresher on the best ways to beat the heat at work. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat rash prickly heat fainting syncope assessing the risks of heat stress.

The signs of heat stress are often overlooked by the victim. Some worksites cannot be cooled by engineering controls. Employee safety is everyone s responsibility and safety policies and procedures should be followed accordingly and taken very seriously. Occupational exposure to heat and hot environments pdf icon.

Heat stress can be assessed by measuring one or more of environmental work or worker factors and then utilising the appropriate heat stress index. Modify work schedules and activities for workers who are new to warm environments. If heat stress is a hazard at your workplace consult with a safety and health professional and review the full recommendations provided in the niosh criteria for a recommended standard. Heat stress strain distress heat cramps.