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Heat Stress: Stay Safe in Hot Conditions

Learn about heat stress, its risks, symptoms, and preventive measures when working in high-temperature environments such as farms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces. Understand the body's response to heat, safety and health problems, and how to prevent heat-induced illnesses.

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Heat Stress: Stay Safe in Hot Conditions

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  1. Heat Stress

  2. The Heat Equation • High Temperature Plus • High Humidity Plus • Physical Work EQUAL HEAT ILLNESS

  3. Working in Hot Weather • Farming • Land Surveying • Bakeries • Laundries • Restaurant Kitchens • Boilers Rooms • Brick & Ceramics firing • OUTDOOR work in hot weather

  4. The Body's Response • Temperature is maintained by the blood circulating through skin • The heart pumps more blood; vessels expand; capillaries carry heat to upper layers of skin

  5. The Body's Response • Excess heat released by sweat glands • Evaporation of sweat cools skin

  6. Safety Problems • Heat Promotes Accidents! • Slippery palms • Dizziness • Fogging of safety glasses • Burns from contact with hot surfaces

  7. Health Problems • Working in excessive heat can bring about a variety of Heat-Induced disorders.

  8. Forms of Heat Illness • Heat Cramps • Muscle spasms • Heat Exhaustion • Body’s cooling mechanism overworked • Heat Stroke • Life-threatening emergency • Body’s cooling mechanism breaks down

  9. Prickly Heat • Heat rash from plugged sweat glands can be very uncomfortable • Wash and dry skin regularly

  10. Fainting • Enlarged vessels in skin may cause blood to pool rather than return to heart • Standing erect and immobile adds to risk

  11. Heat Cramps • Can be caused by drinking Large amounts of water without replacing the salt • May occur while working or later • See your Dr. if you have heart problems or are on a low sodium diet!!

  12. Signs of Heat Exhaustion • Heavy sweating • Cool, damp skin • Headache • Dizziness • Nausea • Rapid breathing • Severe thirst

  13. Signs of Early Heat Stroke • Usually NO SWEATING • HOT >RED>DRY skin • High body temperature • Difficult breathing • Severe headache, dizziness, nausea • Confusion, bizarre behavior

  14. Prepare for the Heat • Acclimate: 5 to 7 days to adjust Heat illness more common in new works who have not had time to adjust to high temps

  15. Chill Out • Drink lots of fluids even if not thirsty • Take breaks in cool, shady spot • Wear a wide-brimmed hat • Wear cool, absorbent clothes (if applicable) • Light color • Lightweight • Loose weave • Loose fit unless working near machinery

  16. Lessening the Stress • Postpone nonessential tasks • Engineering controls: Mechanization of procedures; ventilation; heat shields • Fans; open windows • Rest Areas near the work area

  17. Immediately inform site supervisor if you feel ill!

  18. Sun Exposure • Sunlight contains Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) • Premature Aging of Skin • Wrinkles • Cataracts • Skin Cancer

  19. Skin Cancer-High Risk Groups: • Numerous, irregular or large moles • Freckles • Fair Skin • Blonds, Red Heads, light brown hair

  20. Skin Cancer • Any spot on skin that changes in size, shape or color • Sores that don’t heal • Red, scaly patches • Pale, wax-like nodules

  21. Prevent Sunburn • Cover up • Wear sunblock—not suntan lotion!-- on all exposed skin • Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses

  22. Skin Cancer Prevention: Limit Exposure to the Sun!

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