More infor about Heat Stress
Existing heat illness prevention programs and policies can be tailored to the unique challenges of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heat stress is the total amount of heat the body encounters. It may come from a variety of indoor or outdoor sources such as:
- Heat from work processes and machinery (e.g., forge)
- Environmental temperatures, humidity, and lack of air movement (e.g., no wind or inadequate air circulation)
- Internal metabolic processes (e.g., illnesses that create fever)
- Heat generated by muscles from physical exertion
Risk Factors for Heat-related Illnesses
Many risk factors can increase a worker’s risk for a heat-related illness. Risk factors may be related to the work environment or characteristics of the individual worker or their current health status.
Examples of heat-related illness risk factors include:
- High temperature and humidity
- Direct sun exposure
- Indoor radiant heat sources (e.g., machinery)
- Limited air movement
- Not drinking enough fluids to maintain hydration
- Physical exertion
- PPE and clothing (i.e., these may trap heat close to the body)
- Physical condition (e.g., obesity) and health problems
- Certain medications
- Pregnancy
- Lack of acclimatization (i.e., not being used to the heat)
- Advanced age
- Having had a previous heat-related illness
Heat-related Illnesses
Heat stroke, the most severe form of heat-related illness is a life-threatening medical emergency. As part of your heat illness prevention program, ensure that all staff is trained to recognize early signs of heat-related illness and understand the need to get prompt medical treatment to prevent heat stroke deaths.
Early signs of heat stroke may include:
- Confusion
- Difficulty performing routine tasks or answering simple questions (e.g., “What is today’s date?” “Where are we?”)
- Slurred speech
Late signs of heat stroke may include:
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Organ failure resulting in death