Issue 22 - August, 2024 - Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)

5 Ways to Prevent Heat Stress

Working in the intense heat of the summer sun can put workers at risk of heat stress, but heat stress can also hit you in environments you wouldn't expect.

Heat stress occurs anytime the body temperature rises, and the body cannot cool itself. This can be a result of the climate, exposure to radiant heat or when a job requires work in, around or with hot equipment; even jobs carried out in air-conditioned environments or jobs that have you moving back and forth between air-conditioning and the hot outdoors can also impact the body’s ability to cool itself.

 

Signs and symptoms

There are many ways to keep workers safe from heat stress. It's important to train workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress in themselves and other workers.

If suffering from heat stress, you may experience the following:

• Fatigue
• Light headedness
• Dizziness
• Blurry vision
• Trouble focusing
• Excessive sweating

Left unchecked, heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heart attack, and other physical health effects. Plus, it can be damaging to business, by way of lost productivity, disability costs, and fines and penalties.

 

How to protect workers from heat stress 

Heat stress is a well-recognized hazard that can be prevented through a combination of engineering and administrative controls. Here are five cost-effective prevention tips: 

1. Wear cotton or other loose woven fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin. As soon as you allow that evaporation, you're cooling the body. But remember, even on hot days safety or protective clothing are still required including high visibility clothing, and other PPE. 
2. Make watering stations available for employees. Small quantities of cool (not cold) liquid prevent dehydration and maintain the body's ability to sweat and cool itself.
3. Train workers, supervisors and managers to recognize signs of heat stress. You may not be aware you're suffering heat stress, but others can say, "Look at the sweat pouring off of you. Something's wrong. You need to go take a break.” Or know when to notify a supervisor."
4. Promote a healthy lifestyle. Workers who are not physically fit are more susceptible to heat stress because their body has to overly exert itself to perform a task.
5. Review other risk factors for heat stress with workers. As we age, we're less able to get rid of heat efficiently. And, certain medications, such as blood pressure pills, diuretics, some antidepressants, antipsychotic and antihypertensives cause increased urination and/or increased sensitivity to heat; both of which can reduce the body’s ability to expel heat through sweating or regulate the body temperature.

 

Additional Resources

• Job Aid - Working in Hot Environments
• What is heat stress? What are the signs and symptoms? (video)
• What can employers do to protect workers from heat stress? (video)
• What are some considerations to prevent heat stress at work and home? (video)
• New OHCOW Heat Stress Tool Kit.
  Courtesy of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) and the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health (CROSH), this tool kit is designed to support, empower and protect workers while guiding workplaces for both indoor and outdoor use.
  
  Here you’ll find:
  • New guides on Heat Stress Awareness, Prevention Tools and Strategies, and Physiological Monitoring
  • Posters and Infographics
  • Videos
  • Humidex-based heat stress calculator
     

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.  

Have health and safety questions? Please contact Denise Lam, WSPS Account Manager, Small Business at Denise.Lam@wsps.ca.   

 

About Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)  

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting Ontario workers and businesses. A proud partner in Ontario’s occupational health and safety system and a trusted safety advisor since 1917, WSPS has a rich history of making Ontario workplaces safer. WSPS serves the manufacturing, agricultural and service sectors. WSPS offers unparalleled health and safety expertise, consulting, training and resources for businesses of any size. For more information visit WSPS.ca.  

 

Copyright information  

This article was prepared by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).  At WSPS we are committed to helping businesses understand their risks and legal obligations to stay in compliance and build safer workplaces. If you would like permission to republish or use information in this article, please contact Jessica Bowes, Content Development Lead at jessica.bowes@wsps.ca.