Heat Awareness and Safety
As a person who has experienced heat illnesses, I take the risk seriously. If you don’t, you should. I recently received an email from our good friends at The Hartford reminding us about Heat Safety & Awareness. Thank you for this information.
With so many people working outside and the heat/humidity we’ve been having, it is a good idea to review some safety protocols.
AWARENESS AND TRAINING FOR HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION IS IMPORTANT.
Construction workers account for 30% of all workplace heat-related fatalities. Heat exhaustion poses a risk for accidents, since workers can become confused and less alert. In addition, Heat stroke can lead to death. Both heat stroke and heat exhaustion are preventable.
Heat stress is defined as the aggregate of environmental, job-related, and personal risk factors that constitute the total load imposed on the body.
Environmental factors include air temperature, humidity, radiant heat exchange, and air movement.
Job factors include workload, work pace, clothing, and PPE that produce body heat. Personal risk factors include worker weight, physical condition, age, possible heart disease or high blood pressure, alcohol use, medication use, and lack of acclimatization. Recent illness and previous heat illness also contribute to overall heat stress.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?
-Heat rash: The most common heat stress reaction, marked by blister-like, raised red vesicles on the skin, and a prickly heat sensation. Reversible when returned to a cool environment.
-Heat fatigue: Impaired performance, inability to concentrate, usually resulting from lack of acclimatization. Reversible when returned to a cool environment. •
-Heat cramps: Muscle spasms caused by heavy sweating and loss of electrolytes. Painful, yet not resulting in permanent damage. Preventable with low-sugar electrolyte drinks and eating fruits such as bananas.
-Heat collapse: Fainting, brief loss of consciousness, rapid, unpredictable onset. Almost always results from a lack of worker acclimatization. Reversible when returned to a cool environment.
-Heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating, cool moist skin, pallor, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, tingling in hands or feet, weak and rapid pulse. Treated by moving to a cool environment, replacing fluids/electrolytes, and resting.
Heat stroke: Life-threatening with high death rate. Signs include high body temperature, red or flushed dry skin, absence of sweating, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, constricted pupils, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, seizure, convulsion, collapse, loss of consciousness. Professional medical treatment needed immediately, including lowering the body temperature (with ice packs and cold water). Medical outcome depends on first aid response treatment and victim’s physical fitness.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT HEAT DISORDERS?
-Use mechanical equipment to replace manual labor. Use power tools instead of hand tools.
-Provide exhaust ventilation or air conditioning.
-Shield workers from radiant sources by insulating them.
-Change work surfaces (black to white).
-Provide a cooling rest area.
-Provide employee training stressing the importance of water, rest and shade.
-Train workers to recognize and respond to heat illness symptoms.
-Alternate work schedules such as early morning/ late night shifts; shorter shifts.
-Use relief workers to lighten the load.
-Personal protective clothing: Loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. Wide-brimmed hard hat. Wraparound sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection. Sunscreen and/or cooling garments.
-Fluid replacement: Provide sufficient cool water close to the work area (1quart/worker/hour).
-Drink small quantities frequently, avoid alcohol/ caffeine drinks. • Do not rely on thirst as a guide.
We’re happy to forward a copy of The Hartford’s informative booklet on request. Its ful lof valuable information.
Stay safe!
