Beat the heat

When it comes to heat stress, awareness and prevention are key
July 13, 2007 — Most of us welcome summer's arrival — especially the balmy conditions it brings. But the hot weather should also serve as a reminder to those working in warm environments (outdoor and indoor alike) that, when it comes to heat stress, awareness and prevention are critical. When you're able to identify and quickly treat early symptoms of heat stress, your chances of preventing more severe (and possibly fatal) conditions rise.

Recognizing heat stress

Heat stress happens when your internal temperature increases faster than your body can cool itself down. Watch for these early signs and symptoms:

Excessive sweating
Dizziness
Nausea
If you don't address these symptoms quickly, you may start experiencing heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or a life-threatening condition known as heatstroke, which requires immediate emergency medical assistance.

Treating heat stress

It's crucial you don't ignore what might be signs of heat stress, regardless of the temperature. When someone experiencing heat stress is attended to and cooled down immediately, the time it takes to recover and return to normal activity is significantly reduced.

Move the worker to a cooler environment (e.g. shade, air-conditioned room)
Lay him/her down and, if possible, remove or loosen tight-fitting clothing
Cool him/her gently with cool water or by fanning
Give him/her oral fluid (e.g. juice, sports drinks, salted water)
Preventing heat stress

The best defence against heat stress? Take these steps to prevent it from happening at all:

Employers are required to conduct a heat stress assessment to identify any areas or duties that put workers at risk of heat-related disorders
If workers are working in hot temperatures, employers must have a heat stress exposure control plan
Train and educate workers and supervisors on identification of symptoms and treatment
Ensure there are cool areas for rest and allot extra breaks
Provide cold water for drinking and cooling down
Acclimatize workers to working in hot temperatures
Ensure workers are never alone when working in hot temperatures
Vary workload so there is a lighter workload for the hottest times of the day
Monitor heat exposure

Resources
WorkSafeBC publication: Prevent Heat Stress at Work
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Guideline
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers:
Construction Safety Association of Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Labour: