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OSHA Launches Campaign to Prevent Heat Stress in Outdoor Workers
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has launched a Heat Stress awareness program on the health effects of heat. Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The two most serious forms of heat related illnesses are heat exhaustion (primarily from dehydration) and heat stroke. Other heat illness, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided.
Companies should be aware of the risk factors for heat illness. They should also train their employees and make them aware of the symptoms, how to prevent heat stress and what measures one should take when one starts experiencing the symptoms.
Four environmental factors affect the amount of stress a worker faces in a hot work area:
- Temperature,
- Humidity,
- Radiant heat (such as from the sun or a furnace) and air velocity.
- Perhaps most important to the level of stress an individual faces are personal characteristics such as age, weight, fitness, medical condition and acclimatization to the heat.
Other factors affecting heat stress:
- Waterproof clothing
- No recent exposure to hot workplaces (acclimation)
- Heavy physical labor
- Low liquid intake
Symptoms (Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke)
- Headache, dizziness or fainting
- Weakness and wet skin
- Irritability or confusion
- Thirst, nausea, or vomiting
- (Heat Stroke) Confusion, unable to think clearly, pass out, collapse or seizures
- Sweating stops
Prevention:
- Provide training to employees about heat stress hazards
- Provide lots of cool water for employees-minimum of 1 pint per hour
- Schedule more frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded areas
- Routinely check workers who are at risk due to protective clothing and high temperature
- During high heat and humidity situations, use a buddy system to monitor employees
- Drink plenty of fluid and stay away from beverages with caffeine and alcohol
- Wear light weight clothing that is loose and light in color.
- High blood pressure and medications can increase one’s risk
Actions to take for employee ill due to Heat:
- Call 911
- Move employee to shaded/cooler area
- Remove outer clothing
- Fan and mist employee with water. Spray bottles are an excellent addition to first aid kits. Use ice bags or ice towels to cool employee.
- Provide cool drinking water if employee is able to drink
For more information one can go to www.osha.gov and search heat stress.
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