Heat Stress. Hot work environments v Outdoor work in hot weather v Foundry work v Smelting v...

Heat StressHeat Stress

Hot work environmentsHot work environments

Outdoor work in hot weatherOutdoor work in hot weather

Foundry workFoundry work

SmeltingSmelting

Brick-firing, ceramics, Brick-firing, ceramics, or glass manufactureor glass manufacture

1a

Hot work environmentsHot work environments

Rubber manufactureRubber manufacture

Work in bakeries, confectioneries, Work in bakeries, confectioneries, kitchenskitchens

Laundry operationsLaundry operations

1b

Risk factorsRisk factors

Not everyone is affected equallyNot everyone is affected equally• Age, weight, physical fitnessAge, weight, physical fitness• Metabolism, medications, use of Metabolism, medications, use of

alcohol/drugsalcohol/drugs

Air temperatureAir temperature

2a

Risk factorsRisk factors

HumidityHumidity

Direct sunDirect sun

Radiant heat sourcesRadiant heat sources

ClothingClothing

2b

How heat causes fatigueHow heat causes fatigue

Blood circulates to upper layers of Blood circulates to upper layers of skinskin

Less blood is available to provide Less blood is available to provide energy to active muscles, brain, energy to active muscles, brain, internal organsinternal organs

3a

How heat causes fatigueHow heat causes fatigue

Performance, coordination, Performance, coordination, alertness all declinealertness all decline

Gradually adjust to working in hot Gradually adjust to working in hot conditionsconditions

3b

Heat rashHeat rash

Results from body’s natural cooling Results from body’s natural cooling mechanismsmechanisms

Body heat is released through Body heat is released through sweatingsweating

If sweat ducts become plugged, a If sweat ducts become plugged, a rash can developrash can develop

4a

Heat rashHeat rash

Rash is very uncomfortable, can Rash is very uncomfortable, can become infectedbecome infected

Rest in a cool areaRest in a cool area

Bathe and dry the skin ASAPBathe and dry the skin ASAP

4b

FaintingFainting

Fainting can be a reaction to the Fainting can be a reaction to the heatheat

As blood is circulated to As blood is circulated to extremities, it can accumulate in extremities, it can accumulate in the lower part of the bodythe lower part of the body

5a

FaintingFainting

Fainting can occur if the brain does Fainting can occur if the brain does not get enough bloodnot get enough blood

Lie down in a cool areaLie down in a cool area

5b

Muscle crampsMuscle cramps

Occur in tired muscles when Occur in tired muscles when worker sweats profusely and drinks worker sweats profusely and drinks large amounts of waterlarge amounts of water

Sweating removes Sweating removes salt from the bodysalt from the body

Drinking dilutes Drinking dilutes body fluidsbody fluids

6a

Muscle crampsMuscle cramps

Low salt levels can cause painful Low salt levels can cause painful spasmsspasms

Too much salt can also cause Too much salt can also cause crampscramps

Drink 5 to 7 ounces Drink 5 to 7 ounces of water every 15 of water every 15 to 20 minutesto 20 minutes

6b

Muscle crampsMuscle cramps

Thirst is not a reliable indicator of Thirst is not a reliable indicator of the need for water in a hot the need for water in a hot environmentenvironment

Avoid drinking Avoid drinking beverages beverages containing caffeine containing caffeine or alcoholor alcohol

6c

Heat exhaustionHeat exhaustion

Results when a person has lost Results when a person has lost large amounts of fluid by sweatinglarge amounts of fluid by sweating

7a

Heat exhaustionHeat exhaustion

Symptoms resemble early heat Symptoms resemble early heat strokestroke• FatiguedFatigued• GiddyGiddy• NauseousNauseous• HeadacheHeadache

7b

Heat exhaustionHeat exhaustion

Person sweatsPerson sweats

Skin is clammy and Skin is clammy and moistmoist

Body temperature Body temperature remains at or near remains at or near normalnormal

7c

Heat exhaustionHeat exhaustion

Victim may vomit/lose Victim may vomit/lose consciousness in extreme casesconsciousness in extreme cases

Move victim to cool Move victim to cool place and give plenty place and give plenty of liquidsof liquids

7d

Heat strokeHeat stroke

Life-threatening conditionLife-threatening condition

Occurs when body’s temperature Occurs when body’s temperature regulatory system failsregulatory system fails

Sweating becomes Sweating becomes inadequate to inadequate to remove excess heatremove excess heat

8a

Heat strokeHeat stroke

Skin is hot and drySkin is hot and dry

Body temperature is 105 degrees F Body temperature is 105 degrees F or higheror higher

Victim is mentally Victim is mentally confused or confused or deliriousdelirious

8b

Heat strokeHeat stroke

Victim may have convulsions or Victim may have convulsions or become unconsciousbecome unconscious

Get immediate medical attentionGet immediate medical attention

Move victim to cool Move victim to cool areaarea

8c

Heat strokeHeat stroke

Soak clothing in waterSoak clothing in water

Fan the bodyFan the body

Never leave Never leave unattendedunattended

8d

Measuring/evaluating heat Measuring/evaluating heat exposuresexposures

Heat index systemHeat index system

Health and safety agency testingHealth and safety agency testing

9a

Measuring/evaluating heat Measuring/evaluating heat exposuresexposures

Work classifications:Work classifications:• Light hand workLight hand work• Heavy hand workHeavy hand work• Heavy work with one armHeavy work with one arm• Light work with two armsLight work with two arms• Moderate work with the bodyModerate work with the body• Heavy work with the bodyHeavy work with the body

9b

Controlling heat stressControlling heat stress

Engineering controlsEngineering controls

Work practice controlsWork practice controls

PPEPPE

10a

Controlling heat stressControlling heat stress

Take intermittent rest periods with Take intermittent rest periods with water breakswater breaks

Use relief workersUse relief workers

Pace the Pace the workwork

10b

Controlling heat stressControlling heat stress

Reduce physical demandsReduce physical demands

Use cool recovery or rest areasUse cool recovery or rest areas

Schedule Schedule work for work for cooler cooler times of daytimes of day

10c