Safety & Maintenance
The Hidden Harms of Heat Stress: A Primer on Prevention and Protection
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veryone knows what it feels like to be too hot. But far fewer people truly realize just how costly and dangerous excessive heat can be. Indeed, heat stress is a critical concern for individuals working or participating in activities in hot environments. Heat stress happens when the body’s innate cooling mechanisms struggle to properly regulate a safe internal temperature, which leads to a wide range of adverse effects that can be life-threatening. This article aims to shed more light on heat stress and to provide practical strategies for preventing heat stress and for protecting your workforce and workplace from its dangerous and deleterious impact.
What is heat stress? Put simply, heat stress arises when the body's heat generation exceeds its capacity for heat loss. High temperatures combined with high humidity and physical exertion can intensify the risk. Several other factors contribute to heat stress, including ambient temperature, radiant heat sources, clothing, individual physiology, and hydration levels. Heat strain, on the other hand, is the body’s response to heat stress. And an individual’s heat strain is dependent on several factors as well: physical fitness, acclimatization, medical conditions, age, general health, weight, hydration levels and medications.
Why is it dangerous? Heat-related illnesses can range from mild conditions, like dehydration and heat rash, to potentially lethal conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion occurs as a result of excessive water and salt loss through sweating. And, clearly, heat exhaustion becomes even more dangerous if the affected person is operating machinery or performing risky tasks that require attention to detail. It is critical to recognize the symptoms of heat stress because it is generally treatable without medical attention. Untreated, however, heat stress can quickly worsen to full-fledged heat stroke – which is a medical emergency. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating,
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extreme weakness or fatigue, dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, elevated body temperature, headache and thirst. Heat stroke, a medical emergency, occurs when body temperature rises to a critical level (greater than 104° F). This can cause death and/or permanent disability and immediate medical attention should be sought if any of the following symptoms are experienced or witnessed: temperature over 104° F, confusion or loss of coordination, hot/dry skin or profuse sweating, throbbing headache, seizure or loss of consciousness. Heat stress (and its concomitant medical conditions – heat exhaustion and heat stroke) isn’t just dangerous and potentially deadly; it also causes reduced productivity and increased cost. Uncomfortably hot facilities also promote increased absenteeism and workplace injuries, which naturally lead to negative employee morale and overall productivity. Clearly, heat stress poses significant risks to the health, safety and comfort of individuals exposed to excessively hot environments. That said, with proper awareness and precautions, the dangers of heat stress can be mitigated. Prioritizing workplace and workforce comfort and safety is essential to ensure good health, well-being, and productivity in these overly hot environments.