Working in Hot Conditions

1. NUECES COUNTY RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT Working in Hot Conditions

2. You will be able to: • Understand how hot conditions affect your body • Recognize symptoms of heat illness • Take precautions to reduce the risk of heat illness Session Objectives

3. Why working in hot conditions can be hazardous to your health and safety • Types of heat-related illness • Measures to prevent heat stress on the job What You Need to Know

4. Body’s Cooling System • Blood circulates closer to the skin so heat is lost • Body sends sweat to the skin’s surface • Sweat evaporates off the skin, cooling the body

5. The Heat Equation • High Temperature • + High Humidity • + Physical Work • = Heat Illness

6. Additional Heat Stress Factors • Radiant heat • Air velocity

7. Acclimatization (getting used to heat) • Age • Physical condition and overall health • Metabolism • Use of alcohol Personal Sensitivity To Heat

8. Heat Rash • Hot, humid environments where sweat can’t evaporate • Red, bumpy rash that often itches • Uncomfortable, making sleep difficult • Treatment and prevention: • Rest in a cool place • Keep your skin dry and clean

9. Worker not used to hot environment • Worker stands still in heat • Blood pools in the legs, so less blood goes to the brain • Quick recovery after lying down in cool place • Prevent by moving around a little rather than standing still all the time Fainting (Heat Syncope)

10. Heat Cramps • Painful muscle cramps • Caused by loss of salt when sweating • Treated/prevented by drinking electrolyte liquids • Severe cases require intravenous saline solutions

11. Loss of fluids and salt • Feeling weak, dizzy, or nauseous • Skin is clammy and complexion is pale or flushed • Treatment: • Rest in cool place • Drink electrolyte solution • Severe cases: victims vomit or lose consciousness Heat Exhaustion

12. Heatstroke • Victim stops sweating • Symptoms include hot, dry skin • Confusion, convulsions, or loss of consciousness may follow • Call for an ambulance immediately • Keep victim cool and provide fluids if conscious

13. Heat-Related Illness • Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

14. Decreased strength, increased fatigue • Reduced comprehension and ability to retain information • Safety procedures not followed • Other risks Heat Can Cause Accidents

15. Engineering Controls • General ventilation • Spot cooling

16. Engineering Controls (cont.) • Shielding from radiant heat sources • Substituting machinery for manual labor

17. Schedule heavy work for a cooler time of year or in the evening and early morning • Allow more frequent breaks or longer rest periods • Allow time for workers to become conditioned to heat Administrative Controls

18. Reduce physical demand on workers • Use relief workers • Limit hours on hot work environments • Pace the work Administrative Controls (cont.)

19. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT • Shade-providing hats • Portable water products • Reflective clothing • Systems that circulate air around the body

20. Events leading up to the incident • Work being done at time of incident • Length of time employee working • Engineering and administrative controls • PPE • Medical surveillance and worker monitoring Investigating Heat-Related Illness

21. Preventing Heat-Related Illness • Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides?

22. Water, Water, Water • Drink plenty of water all day • Drink electrolyte-balanced fluids if you sweat a lot • Drink at least one cup of fluid every 15-20 minutes when working in hot conditions • Avoid caffeine and alcohol

23. Working in hot conditions can affect your health and safety • Understand the risks and the precautions • Know symptoms of heat-related illness and first-aid response • Use all available measures to reduce heat stress and keep safe and healthy when working in hot conditions Key Points to Remember

24. Contact Risk Management: • Risk Manager: lance.esswein@co.nueces.tx.us • Emergency Risk Management Specialist: martha.sanchez@co.nueces.tx.us 361-888-0401 QUESTIONS???