Page 12 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2018

SUMMER HAZARDS/HEAT STRESS
Exploring Measures to Protect Your Employees from Heat Stress
There are a number of ways to guard against heat stress, and those can be divided into preventative measures, protective measures, and proper attire. BY SCOTT FRANCIS
With the summer months on the horizon, warm weather tends to draw attention toward the risks of heat-related illness.
The reality is that, while special at- tention should be paid to heat stress in the summer months, heat stress risks can manifest at any point during the year. Resulting from extreme exposure to heat and hot environments, heat stress causes occupa- tional illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rash. The summer months natu- rally are a high-risk time of year, given soaring tem- peratures and elevated humidity; however, strenuous physical activity near radiant heat sources, in stuffy and heated interior environments, or around heated
objects also poses elevated risks for heat stress.
Heat stress ailments range from heat stroke, which is the most serious of heat-related illnesses, to heat rash, a common yet painful rash needing particu-
lar attention. A host of factors can contribute to in- creased risk of heat stress, such as high temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, little to no breeze, low tolerance to hot workplace conditions, low liquid intake, heavy physical labor, or waterproof or bulky work wear.
Given the propensity for heat stress illnesses and the serious health conditions associated with heat stress, both employers and employees should be aware of both the signs of and precautions against heat stress. There are a number of ways to guard against heat stress, and those can be divided into preventative mea- sures, protective measures, and proper attire measures.
Preventative Measures
According to OSHA, an integral part of preventing heat stress can be summed up by perpetuating the “Water. Rest. Shade.” safety message. These three key safety el-
10 Occupational Health & Safety | MARCH 2018
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