Heat Stress
Essentials
Prevention in Action
Outline
Heat stress/strain health effects
What you can do to prevent them
What the law says
Simple ways to monitor the heat
Heat
Syncope
(fainting)
Heat Cramps:
Symptoms: Cramping of
either active muscles (arms,
legs) or involuntary (usually
abdominal) muscles (or both).
First Aid: Replenish
electrolytes through drinking
of fluids such as Gator-Ade,
Squincher, PowerAde, etcAde. Rest in a cool
environment.
Heat Exhaustion:
Symptoms: Nausea,
dizziness, weakness
headache, blurred vision,
profuse sweating, cold/wet
(clammy) grayish skin,
unconsciousness, coma and
death.
First Aid: Place victim in a
prone position in a cool
location, administer fluids if
the victim is conscious. If
unconscious, seek medical
care or transport to a
medical emergency room.
Heat Stroke:
Symptoms: Chills, restlessness,
irritability, euphoria, red face
and skin, disorientation,
hot/dry skin (not always),
collapse, unconsciousness,
convulsions and death.
First Aid: Immediate,
aggressive cooling of the
victims body using wet cloths,
immersion into cold water or
alcohol wipes. Transport to
emergency medical facility
ASAP!
Predisposin
g Factors:
Heat
Balance
H
Cooling
evaporation
of sweat
External
Heat sources
hot weather
radiant heat sources
Internal
Heat sources
muscle activity
External heat
source
controls
At the source
H
External
Heat sources
hot weather
radiant heat sources
Internal
source
controls:
At the source
Reduce workload
Internal
improve ergonomics, Heat sources
provide assistance,
muscle activity
increase relief time
slow down
Promoting Cooling
Wear loose clothes that
allow sweat to evaporate
easily (cotton)
Take internal heat sources
into account when using
any personal protective
clothing that prevents
sweat from evaporating
Wash clothes regularly and
maintain good personal
hygiene
Cooling
evaporation
of sweat
Drink Water
Acclimatization does not
decrease your bodys need for
water.
What to
drink:
Electrolyte drinks (e.g. Gatorade) are usually
not needed for typical North American diet
(can be used for first aid for cramps).
Stay away from caffeinated carbonated, diet
drinks and alcohol as they take water out of
your body.
Water is the best; juices and/or noncaffeine
sport drinks are also good (juices contain
energy restoring glucose).
Dehydration
To prevent
dehydration, take
advantage of
scheduled water
breaks!
Dehydration
fluid loss
time*
0.75 L
1 hr
1.5 L
2-3 hrs
2.25 L
3-4 hrs
3L
4-5 hrs
3.5-4 L
5-6 hrs
Eat Healthy
You can and should replace
essential elements lost during
sweating;
Eat a balanced diet
rather than taking salt
tablets or drinking
expensive sports
drinks.
Cooler Fans
Purpose of a cooling fan is primarily to
increase the rate of sweat evaporation
but it also cools by convection if the air
is cooler than the skin
Fan coolers may interfere with local
exhaust ventilation for contaminant
control, therefore be careful in where
they are placed and how they are
pointed
NO
1. clothing OK/adjustment?
YES
2/3a. WBGT
screening/ detailed
action limit
below
keep monitoring
above
5. job-specific controls
OK
general controls
2007
ACGIH
Heat
Stress/
Strain
TLV
What is a WBGT?
1. normal thermometer (dry-bulb)
2. wet-bulb thermometer
humidity
3. globe temperature
radiant heat
work
demands:
100% work;
(breaks
incl.)
28.0
31.0
25.0
28.0
not
not
allowe allowe
d
d
75% work;
25% rest
28.5
31.0
26.0
29.0
24.0
27.5
not
allowe
d
50% work;
50% rest
29.5
32.0
27.0
30.0
25.5
29.0
24.5
28.0
25% work;
75% rest
29.0
29.0
28.0
Action Level
32.5
31.0
30.5
TLV
27.0
30.0
2.
3.
4.
Humidex = 37C
Temperature = 29C
Relative Humidity = 60%
CAVEAT (warning)!
never ignore symptoms
even if
measurements meet
standards!
watch for
symptoms!