1 / 14

Protecting Workers from Heat Stress-converted

Heat stress can cause a variety of ailments in construction and HAZWOPER workers. As an employer, you have a responsibility to protect your employees' health against these risks. Check out the document for more details.

hazwoperosha
Download Presentation

Protecting Workers from Heat Stress-converted

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Protecting Workersfrom HeatStress

  2. What is HeatStress? You would have heard people discussing ‘heat stress’ now that summer is here. But what exactly is heat stress and why do people keep on talking aboutit?

  3. What Factors Contribute to Heat Stress? Several factors contribute to heat stress, these include high air temperatures, high levels of humidity, direct exposure to the sun when working in open-to-sky works places, direct exposure to heat sources such as working in proximity to open fires, exposure to hot workplaces, workspaces with no ventilation or breeze, physical contact with hot objects, and arduous physicalactivities.

  4. Who is Prone to Experience HeatStress? Anyone can experience heat stress and related heat illnesses. However, according to the CDC, workerswho are overweight, over the age of 65 years, diagnosed with high blood pressure or heart disease, or take prescription drugs that may have a negative impact fromextreme heat are those at greaterrisk

  5. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses HeatStroke Thisisthemostseriousofalltheillnessesthatbecontracteddue to heat stress. When the body temperature rises rapidly and is unable to cool down then heatstroke can occur. As the body temperature can rise to 106 °F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes, heatstroke can have highly adverse effects on worker’s health resulting in permanent disability or, in the worst-case scenario, death.

  6. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses HeatExhaustion Thisisanothertypeofillness,althoughithaslessseveresymptomsand consequencestogoodhealth.Heatexhaustionoccurswhenthehuman body is subject to an excessive loss of salt and water. This usually happenswhenapersonsweatsexcessivelyanddoesnotreplacethelost fluids. While older workers and those with high blood pressure are at greater risk, any workers working in hot and humid temperatures may sufferfromthisillness.Constructionworkersareagoodexample.

  7. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses Rhabdomyolysis This is a serious medical condition linked to heat stress when workers areexposedtoextendedperiodsofphysicallabor.Rhabdomyolysis(also knownasRhabdo)occurswhenelectrolytesandproteinsfromdamaged muscles are released into the bloodstream causing kidney and heart damage leading to other serious illnesses, permanent disability, and sometimesdeath.

  8. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses SuddenFaintingSpellsandDizziness Excessiveexposuretoheatcanresultinworkersexperiencingdizziness or fainting spells while they are standing for long periods or suddenly stand up. This can occur due to not having adjusted to the high temperatures, excessive heat in the work area, or dehydration. Often referredtoasHeatSyncopeitisalessseriousformofheatillnessand occurswhenthebloodflowtothebrainistemporarilyreduceddueto exposuretoveryhightemperatures.

  9. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses HeatCramps Perspiration is a very common occurrence when working in hot conditions. So, workers in occupations ranging from construction to roadworks and those working in factories and small spaces in office complexescansufferfromexcessivesweating.Suchworkerswouldbeat risktoheatcrampsastheywouldhavelostalossofwaterandsaltdue to sweating resulting in their muscles cramping because of the fall in sodiumlevelinthebody.Pointtonote,heatcrampsarealsoasymptom of heatexhaustion.

  10. Types of Heat-RelatedIllnesses HeatRash Another mild and curable, although very irritating sickness from heat stressistheformingofrashesontheskin,especiallyinareassuchasthe innersideoftheelboworbehindtheknees.Rashesaredevelopeddueto sweatingandhumidclimateconditionsresultinginblockedsweatducts trappingtheperspirationundertheskin

  11. How Should Employers Protect Workers from HeatStress? Employersshouldalsoensurethatworkers: aregivenadequaterestperiods, areprovidedwithshelteredand/orcoolrestingplaces, haveeasyaccesstocooldrinkingwater, aregivenrotatingworkschedulesorhavemodifiedworking hourswithadequatebreaksforrestanddrinkingwater, areencouragedtoself-monitoragainstheatstressorhavea systemwhereworkerskeeptabsoncolleagues,and aregivenuseofprotectiveclothingthatprovidescooling.

  12. How Should Workers ProtectThemselves? Asimportantasitisforemployerstoofferadequateprotectionagainst heatstress,workersmustalsomakesuretotakecareofthemselves.So, employeesmustadheretothefollowing. Comprehendthesignsandsymptomsofheatstress. Ensuredrinkingenoughwater.Drinkingwaterevery15minutesand beforeyouarethirstyistheexpert’srecommendation.Monitorthis withanalarmifitmakesiteasier! Trytoworkunderashadeandavoidworkingdirectlyunderthesun. Monitoryourselfandalsokeepaneyeonyourco-worker.

  13. How Should Workers ProtectThemselves? Caffeinateddrinksshouldbeavoided,asshouldalcoholicbeverages. Wear clothing that is loose-fitting, light-colored, and lightweight. If you must wear personal protective clothing, take breaks in a cool area,andaskyouremployerfortypesthatareconducivetobeused in hotconditions.

  14. ContactUS 1-866-429-6742 https://hazwoper-osha.com/ info@HAZWOPER-OSHA.com

More Related