Understanding Heat Stress in the Workplace: Essential Information You Should Have!

To clarify any misconceptions right off the bat, heat stress isn't confined only to outdoor environments or high-temperature seasons. Heat stress is a year-round concern and is particularly prevalent in environments like bakeries and foundries. However, it's worth noting that during the hotter, summer months, heat stress can become a problem even in spaces where it's not typically an issue, such as offices or vehicles.

So, What Exactly is Heat Stress?

Each individual's body responds differently to environmental factors, which means the signs of heat stress can vary significantly from one employee to another. However, there are some common symptoms to be aware of:

• Decreased concentration
• Muscle spasms
• Heat rash
• Serious dehydration, which typically manifests as a late-stage symptom

In more severe cases, symptoms might escalate to:

• Fainting
• Heat exhaustion, characterized by symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue
• Heat stroke, which is the most critical symptom of heat stress and may present in various forms ranging from confusion to seizures.

Spotting the Signs of Heat Stress

Heat stress manifests when the human body is unable to maintain its internal temperature. There are several factors that may induce heat stress, including:

Consequently, recognizing the risks associated with heat stress is not always straightforward. As an employer, it's your duty to understand what elements in your company's surroundings could contribute to heat stress. You should identify these factors and devise strategies to minimize them, thereby reducing the risk of heat stress becoming a significant issue.

Heat stress is most often observed in work settings such as: mines; boiler rooms; laundry facilities; nuclear power plants; foundries; bakeries; commercial kitchens; and compressed air tunnels, among others. Welding professions also pose a notable risk.

What Actions Should You Take?

If you suspect that your business environment could be at risk for heat stress, it's essential to conduct a risk assessment. This assessment should involve five key steps:

1. Identify potential causes of heat stress
2. Determine who might be at risk and how they might be affected
3. Evaluate these risks and consider potential preventative measures
4. Record any notable findings
5. If necessary, revisit and update your assessment in the future.

Checklist for Risk Assessment

The evaluation of heat stress involves many variables, including air velocity, radiant temperatures, metabolic rates, and air movement, making it quite intricate. When carrying out a heat stress risk assessment, consider the following key factors:

• Work rate: The more physically demanding the work, the more body heat employees will produce, thereby increasing the risk of heat stress.
• Climate: Factors such as air temperature, air movement, and humidity in your workplace, as well as employees' proximity to heat sources, will affect the overall climate.
• Attire: Certain clothing or personal protective equipment might inhibit an employee's ability to regulate their own body temperature, for instance, by hindering sweat evaporation.

Besides these major factors, remember to take into account an employee's age, physique, and medical history, as these elements could influence their heat tolerance.

During your risk assessment, make sure to engage in conversations with the employees who might be affected. After all, they are the best source of insight into their own conditions. If early signs of heat stress are identified, it may be necessary to consult with a professional, such as an occupational health specialist or doctor, to accurately gauge the risk in your business environment.

Managing the Risks

Whenever feasible, your goal should be to completely eliminate the risk of heat stress. If complete removal isn't achievable, your focus should shift to reducing the risk as much as possible. Here are eight straightforward steps to minimize the risks:

1. Regulate Temperature: Consider installing fans, air conditioning, or barriers that shield employees from radiant heat to manage the temperature.
2. Control Exposure: Promote regular rest breaks for employees working in hot conditions. These breaks should be taken in cooler areas. Also, consider limiting the time they spend working under heat stress conditions or, if possible, schedule the work during cooler parts of the day.
3. Encourage Hydration: Offer accessible water bottles or hydration stations and prompt employees to drink water before, during (if feasible), and after working in a hot environment.
4. Provide Cooling Clothing: When appropriate, supply employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) featuring cooling systems or breathable fabrics. It's essential to also consider the potential hazards that other types of PPE might present. For instance, employees working with asbestos will need protective clothing, but such attire may increase their heat stress risk, hence limiting the time they can safely perform their duties.
5. Educate Employees: Ensure that both new and existing employees are thoroughly informed about heat stress. Keep them updated about the risks related to their specific roles, the symptoms to watch out for, ways to minimize risks, and the steps to follow in an emergency.
6. Allow Acclimatization: If an employee is new to a high-heat environment, give them time to acclimatize and monitor their adaptation process. If they're having difficulty with the conditions, you might need to relocate them to a cooler work station if possible.
7. Exercise Due Diligence: Before assigning an employee to a high-heat environment, confirm that they don't have any health issues or conditions, such as a heart condition, that could heighten their risk. If they do, you might need to consult with an occupational health professional or doctor for guidance on the next steps.
8. Conduct Regular Check-ins: If you've done everything possible to eradicate heat stress risks but still perceive a residual risk, you should proactively monitor the well-being of employees exposed to these risks. We recommend consulting with a healthcare expert – a doctor or occupational health professional – for a deeper understanding of the health risks.