Heat Stress: Take Proactive Protection Measures

It’s officially summer, and with that comes the potential for heat stress. Although OSHA does not have a formal regulation that addresses heat stress, the agency has been conducting an outreach campaign for the past several years aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of hot working conditions and encouraging employers to implement preventive measures to protect workers. And in California, which does regulate heat stress for outdoor workers, the heat illness prevention rule is one of the most frequently violated standards.

Employers and employees should also note that our understanding of the interaction of heat and the human body has also been improving through research and that programs and practices to protect employees from illness caused by heat stress should be periodically reviewed to stay in step with the most current knowledge.

One of the more recent and in-depth information documents is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (Revised Criteria 2016). The document, which had been previously updated in 1986, includes more recent information on the physiological changes that result from heat stress; updated information from relevant studies, such as those on caffeine use; evidence to redefine heat stroke and associated symptoms; and updated information on physiological monitoring and per­sonal protective equipment and clothing that can be used to control heat stress.

Climate and Chemicals

NIOSH notes that whether and how climate change will affect workers is an ongoing area of research. Another new area of investigation focuses on how heat stress affects the toxic response to chemicals.

“It is likely but unclear to what extent global climate change will impact known heat-exposure hazards for workers, especially with regard to severity, prevalence, and distribution,” says NIOSH. “Toxicological research has shown that heat exposure can affect the absorption of chemicals into the body. Most of what is known on this subject comes from animal studies, so a better understanding of the mechanisms and role of ambient environment with regard to human health is still needed. With changes in the climate, the need for a better understanding will become increasingly important.”

Hazards, Indoor and Outdoor

Illnesses that can be brought by exposure to extreme heat in occupational settings include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat rashes, or death. Heat can also increase workers’ risk of injuries, as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and a reduction in brain function responsible for reasoning ability, creating additional hazards. Other heat injuries, such as burns, may occur as a result of contact with hot surfaces, steam, or fire.

Those at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments, such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners (particularly surface miners), boiler room workers, and factory workers. For 2017, OSHA received reports that 24 workers died from heat stress, which likely is only a partial accounting of all the occupational deaths from heat stress that occurred in 2017.

Symptoms and Prevention

One of the major challenges with heat hazards is that the symptoms of dangerous heat stress can be hard to recognize, even for those who are experiencing them. This is why it is critical that employees become knowledgeable in recognizing the symptoms of conditions such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion in themselves and coworkers. Protection programs should be preventive—that is, actions should be regularly taken in hot environments before symptoms start to appear. A joint OSHA-NIOSH Infosheet lists the following recommendations for both indoor and outdoor environments:

• Train workers and supervisors about the hazards leading to heat illness and ways to prevent them.
• Train workers to recognize symptoms in themselves and others.
• Train and encourage workers to immediately report symptoms in themselves and others.
• If you have someone who is new to the job or who has been away for more than a week, gradually increase the workload or allow more frequent breaks the first week.
• Remind workers to frequently drink small amounts of water before they become thirsty to maintain good hydration. Simply telling them to drink plenty of fluids is not sufficient. During moderate activity, in moderately hot conditions, workers should drink about one 8-ounce cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Instruct workers that urine should be clear or lightly colored.
• Workers should eat regular meals and snacks, as they provide enough salt and electrolytes to replace those lost through sweating as long as enough water is consumed. Electrolyte drinks (e.g., Gatorade) are usually not necessary.
• Set up a buddy system if possible; if not, check routinely (several times an hour) to make sure workers are making use of water and shade and not experiencing heat-related symptoms.
• Make workers aware that it is harmful to drink extreme amounts of water. Workers should generally not drink more than 12 quarts (48-ounce cups) in a 24-hour period. If higher amounts of fluid replacement are needed due to prolonged work in high heat conditions, a more comprehensive heat illness prevention program may be warranted.
• Reduce the physical demands of the job. If heavy job tasks cannot be avoided, change work/rest cycles to increase the amount of rest time.
• Schedule frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned recovery areas. Note that air-conditioning will not result in loss of heat tolerance and is recommended for rest breaks.

The OSHA-NIOSH Infosheet is available here.