What employers need to know about heat stress
Are you confident in your workplace’s ability to keep your employees safe in hot conditions?
Heat stress is a serious workplace hazard that occurs when the body is unable to cool itself down effectively. This can lead to many health issues ranging from heat rash, cramps, syncope, exhaustion, and stroke.
Who is at risk for heat stress?
While heat stress can affect workers in a variety of industries, those who work in hot and high humidity environments are most at risk. Some examples of at-risk workers are:
- Outdoor workers, such as construction workers, landscapers, and farmers. This includes new employees who have not yet been acclimatized to working in extreme heat.
- Indoor workers who work in hot weather environments, such as factory workers and foundry workers.
- Workers who are taking certain medications. According to Dr. Neha Pathak, M.D., many common prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines, and drugs used to treat diabetes and high blood pressure, may reduce the body’s ability to maintain a safe temperature.
- Workers who are pregnant, or have underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma are at increased risk.
- Workers with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2).
Concerned employees with personal health risk factors should consult with their healthcare provider about whether they can work safely in the heat.
What are the symptoms of heat stress?
The symptoms of heat stress can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some common symptoms include:
- Excessive sweating
- A dull, throbbing headache
- Dizziness and/or confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps, often in the arms, legs, or abdomen
- Fatigue
- Loss of consciousness
Heat stress prevention tips and best practices
Employers can take a proactive approach in protecting their workers from heat stress. Below are some best practices and recommendations to implement:
- Provide access to cool water (ideally below 59°F) and encourage workers to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, frequently. At least one pint of water per hour is needed.
- Encourage workers to take frequent rest breaks in cool, shaded areas
- Schedule work during cooler times of the day, rotate workers to prevent prolonged heat exposure or consider increasing the number of workers per task.
- Train and educate your workers on the dangers of heat stress, how to recognize the signs and symptoms, procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat-related illness and for contacting emergency medical services, and more.
- Distribute safety information or post workplace reminders detailing signs of heat illness, first aid steps, and how to respond in case of an emergency.
- Provide proper ventilation and air conditioning
- Proactively monitor the heat index, especially if a heat wave is predicted, and adjust activity accordingly
- Allow workers to wear loose-fitting clothing made from breathable fabrics
- Require workers to conduct self-monitoring and create a work group (i.e., workers, a qualified healthcare provider, and a safety manager) to make decisions on self-monitoring options and standard operating procedures.
- Institute a heat acclimatization plan.
What is OSHA doing to prevent heat stress?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a heat stress standard. In the meantime, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, also known as the General Duty Clause, is used to cite employers for heat stress hazards.
A few states have adopted heat stress regulations and standards that cover hazards not addressed by federal OSHA standards such as California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Minnesota. These standards vary from state to state but typically require employers to protect workers from heat exposure.
