HEAT STRESS

HEALTH - OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

 HEAT STRESS
Illness mainly due to overexposure of a person to heat or a
hot work environment.

Aggravated by the combination

of two or more contributing factors.
 Cope with Heat Stress
How to cope with heat stress

It is that time of year again when we have to

worry about the heat and its affects. Working
under hot and humid conditions places a lot
of stress on the body which can result in
minor or life threatening illnesses.

Being aware of the various types of illnesses,

symptoms and preventive steps will help you
deal with the heat.
 Temperature & Humidity Combined
Below is a diagram indicating the temperature and humidity level
that you need to be careful of.
Relative Temperature
Humidity
100°F/ 37.8°C
70 %
Dangerous
60 % 95°F/ 35°C
Caution
90°F/ 32.2°C
50 %

85°F/ 29.4°C
40 %

80°F/ 26.7°C
30 %
Less
Hazardous
 Maintaining Correct Body Temperature

WORKRESTWORKRESTWORKRESTWORKRESTWORKREST
 Maintaining Correct Fluid Level

Replacement Fluid:
6 Litres of water per Water Loss:
day Sweat
Urine

Avoid:
Caffeine
Heavy meal at
lunch
 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

A combination of two or more of the following factors

aggravate the bad effect of heat stress on a person:

Age Exposure

Physical condition Time of day

Type of work Season of the year

Work environment Geography

The young and old people are more likely to suffer from
heat stress.
 TYPE OF WORK
The people engaged in manual type of work are more likely to suffer
from heat stress.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT

The people working in an open area or

exposed to direct sunlight, are more
likely to suffer from heat stress.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT
The people working near heat-generating equipment or in
poorly-ventilated area, are more likely to suffer from heat stress.

HSE-TARGET:ULG-Ruwais
 EXPOSURE
The people working continuously without rest periods, are more likely to
suffer from heat stress.

HSE-TARGET:ULG-Ruwais
 TIME OF DAY

The people working in an open area between

10:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m., are more likely to
suffer from heat stress due to the high
ambient temperature.

HSE-TARGET:ULG-Ruwais
 SEASON OF THE YEAR
The people working during summer are more likely to
suffer from heat stress than working during winter.

HSE-TARGET:ULG-Ruwais
 GEOGRAPHY

The people working in the

Gulf Region are more
likely to suffer from
heat stress than people
working elsewhere.

HSE-TARGET:ULG-Ruwais
 BASIC SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STRESS

1. Profuse sweating

2. General body weakness

3. High body temperature

4. Pale skin

5. Dizziness

6. Nausea
 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

In case of heat stress,

1. Inform the Foreman or Site Engineer

immediately or send somebody to
call for medical assistance.

2. Bring the person under a shady place.

3. Loosen clothing, if conscious,

give cool water.

4. Transport person to clinic or

nearest hospital.
How to recognise, treat and avoid heat illnesses?
Type Symptoms Treatment

1. Flushed face
2. Extreme thirst, more than
normal or unable to drink
3. Dry/ warm skin
4. Dizziness made worse when For mild to
you are standing moderate
dehydration,
Dehydration 5. Weakness
drink more
6. Cramping in the arms and
legs water and try
7. Headaches to avoid the
8. Dry mouth/ dry tongue heat until
9. Low blood pressure refreshed.
10. Rapid and deep breathing -
faster than normal
11. Fainting
 Type Symptoms Treatment
1. Redness accompanied
with swelling and The best treatment is
inflammation of skin. to provide a cooler, less
2. Small blisters.
Heat Rash humid environment.
Both symptoms commonly Clean the effected area
occur on the back of the and apply a mild lotion
neck. to it.

Stop all activities and

do not return to
1. Muscle pain in the strenuous activities
abdomen, arms or legs until the cramps
may occur in subside. Further
Heat Cramps association with
strenuous activity.
exertion may lead to
exhaustion or heat
2. Rapid heartbeat stroke This usually
3. Sweaty skin improves if you drink
water and rest in a cool
environment
 Type Symptoms Treatment
1. Faintness
2. Dizziness Lie or sit down under a
3. Headaches shaded or cool environment.
4. Increased pulse rate
5. Restlessness
Heat Syncope 6. Nausea
Try to take frequent breaks if
working under high
7. Vomiting
temperatures and drink a lot
8. A brief loss of
consciousness. of water.

1. Headaches
2. Paleness
3. Heavy sweating Shift to a cooler location and
4. Thirst
drink a lot of water.
5. Dizziness
Heat Exhaustion 6. Fatigue
Use cold towels over your
7. Nausea
head and neck.
8. Impaired judgment
9. Loss of appetite
 Type Symptoms Treatment
Apply cold towels on the areas
1. Skin becomes red & painful affected or take a cold shower.
2. Burning sensation and swelling
Apply moisture lotions and not
3. Blisters
ointments. Do not break
blisters and try to avoid
Sunburn repeated sun exposure.

Use sunscreen to avoid a

sunburn.

Seek medical attention for

severe cases
1. High body temperature Get to a shady cool area.
2. Red and dry skin
3. Throbbing headaches Sponge or shower with cold
4. Nausea water.
Heatstroke/ 5.
6.
Unconsciousness
Rapid and shallow breathing
Sunstroke 7. Fatigue
Get a cold towel and wrap it
around the body.

Call the hospital for medical

treatment.
 Maintaining Correct Salt Level
•Long term excess of salt can cause strokes

•Salt replacement can be achieved through a normal

healthy diet

•Salt tablets are no longer recommended

•Sports drinks such as Gatorade have lower electrolyte

levels and are safer.
 Heat Stress Disorders

Systemic Skin Psychoneurotic

Heat Stroke Prickly Heat Acute Distress

Heat Exhaustion
Heat Cramps
Water Deficiency
Sweating
Deficiency
 Heat Stroke
Description Symptoms Treatment

Heat stroke is “life Hot dry skin. Activate emergency

threatening” and High temperature response
must be treated as Low blood pressure Reduce
an emergency. temperature by
Delirium
The body has lost sponging with cold
the ability to cool Convulsions water, blow with
itself down. Coma cool dry air
If left untreated Remove from heat
death will occur. source.
 Heat Exhaustion

Description Symptoms Treatment

Heat exhaustion is a Clammy (damp) Remove casualty

circulatory deficiency skin from heat source
less severe than heat
stroke.
Weak pulse Seated position,
Faintness legs raised
The body still has
fluid available for Nausea Slowly drink one
cooling. Headache litre of water
If left untreated
Facial pallor Rest
casualty may develop Consult medical
heat stroke. Stumbling
and safety before
General tiredness return to work
 Dehydration

Description Symptoms Treatment

Water is being lost Increase in pulse Remove casualty

from the body thru rate from heat source
sweating, Increased in body Slowly drink one
respiration and temperature litre of water
urine production Irritability Rest
faster than
replacement fluids Restlessness Return to work
are being Loss of work
consumed. efficiency
 The causes of heat stress

High temperature
levels

The type of High humidity

clothing worn levels

The physical Low levels of air

activity carried out movement

Heat sources in the area

 Types of heat stress

In order of severity, heat stress includes:

 heat rash;

 heat collapse;

 heat cramps;

 heat exhaustion; and

 heat stroke.

The most severe form of heat stress is heat stroke.

 Preventing heat stress

Monitor yourself and Adapt work schedules

your environment

Wear protective Reduce heat exposure

clothing

Have frequent rest breaks Increase air flow

Adapt to the heat and Drink water frequently

humidity
Heat Stress - General Precautions
Hydrations
The best way to avoid heat strokes and other heat disorders is to keep your body
well hydrated. Drink a lot of water if you are exercising or working in hot
conditions. Doctors usually recommend consuming eight or more glasses of
water per day.

Ventilation
Remain in cool areas where your body can cool itself. If working in hot
conditions, try to take a break to regain energy and to avoid overexposure to the
sun.

Clothing
What you wear plays a big factor in how your body handles the heat. Light
clothing and loose fitting clothing will help your body in breathing and cooling
itself. It is fine to wear a hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun but once you
feel warm, remove it. This usually traps the heat inside your body.

Limit yourself
It is also important to watch the amount of activities you are participating in
during hot days. Don’t overdo it. Heat stroke and other disorders can take affect
in less than an hour.

Are you fit to work during summer?

Older employees, obese employees, new employees and personnel on
medication are at great risk if they decide to work during very hot and
humid conditions.
 Treating heat stroke

A person suffering from heat stroke requires medical attention urgently

and emergency services should be contacted as soon as possible.

While waiting for emergency services

to arrive you should:
 move the patient to a cool
environment;
 soak the patient’s clothing with
water;
 apply cold packs continuously;
 place them in a tub of cool water;
and
 circulate the air around the patient.

Do not give the patient any stimulants.

 Summary

Heat stress can be prevented

Heat stress occurs when the body is by:
stressed because of overheating.  adapting work schedules;

Heat stress includes, heat rash, heat  reducing heat exposure;

collapse, heat cramps, heat exhaustion  increasing air flow;
and heat stroke.
 drinking water frequently;
 adapting to the heat;
 having frequent rest breaks;
Heat stroke can result in death.  wearing protective clothing;
and
First aid experts should be called
 monitoring yourself and your
immediately to treat those suffering
from heat stroke. environment.