Page 47 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2019

equipment; reflected heat from the ground, water, or objects; and clothing/PPE choices are chief among them.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the four most common Heat-Related Illnesses (HRIs).
Heat Rash
How it happens: occurs when sweat ducts become clogged and sweat can’t get to the surface of the skin
Symptoms: red blister-like eruptions, bumps, and an itching sensation
Howtotreatit:keeptheskindryand rest in a cool place
Heat Cramps
How it happens: salt and moisture levels are depleted through excessive perspiration Symptoms: painful spasms, usually in
the legs or abdomen
How to treat it: move to a cool, shaded
area, apply something cool, drink plenty of fluids (consider an electrolyte solution)
Heat Exhaustion
How it happens: prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate hydra- tion, causing body tempartures to rise
Symptoms: headaches, weakness, mood change, feeling sick, pale and/or clammy skin
How to treat it: move to a cool, shaded area, apply something cool, drink plenty of fluids and monitor
Heat Stroke
How it happens: when the body be- comes unable to control its core body tem- perature
Symptoms: pale skin, nausea, vomiting, confusion
How to treat it: seek medical attention immediately
Prevention and Solutions
You can’t change the weather. But you can change your approach to working in the heat.
Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative cooling is a simple, effec- tive, and relatively inexpensive approach that can be used in outdoor and indoor environments but works best in drier, low-to-moderately humid conditions with sufficient airflow. Working on the same principles as how sweat cools the body, evaporative cooling solutions draw heat from workers’ bodies, using an external source of water. They can provide an en-
hanced cooling effect, even for workers still acclimatizing to new tasks or to a change in environment. And they can help experi- enced workers keep their cool.
While any damp rag could provide some relief, controlled evaporation with fabrics that hold moisture for an extended period of time, and products that are com- fortable to wear, will provide significantly more effective results.
Phase Change Cooling
Unlike evaporative cooling technol- ogy, airflow is not required for phase change cooling, making it a prime choice for high-heat indoor settings such as foundries, glass manufacturing, and pa- per & pulp operations. Solutions such as Phase Change Cooling Vests use a cooling charge pack that works to pull heat away from the body (heat energy always moves from a warmer place to a cooler place). These packs contain liquids, such as non- toxic phase change material, that solidify, typically between 55° F (13° C) and 64° F (18° C), but unlike conventional ice or gel freezer packs, phase change packs aren’t frosty to the touch, so they’ll remain com- fortable against the body and stay cool a lot longer than ice. As the phase change cool- ing pack absorbs heat, it begins to change from a solid to a liquid. The cooling effect can last anywhere from 90 minutes to four hours, depending on the solution.
Absorptive Cooling
Sweat happens, and for a very good rea- son: to regulate body temp. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing. That’s where absorptive technology comes in. A sweaty palm or stinging drop- let in the eye isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s a job site hazard.
Much like evaporative cooling solu- tions, materials matter when it comes to all-around comfort and performance with absorptive solutions. Again, you could wrap any old rag around your head and call it good, but ultimately what starts as a so- lution becomes a hindrance because it just wasn’t designed for that purpose.
From old-school but super-effective cotton terry sweatbands (think early ’80s John McEnroe) to dew rags, skull caps, multi- bands, and headbands made of high-performance materials that pull sweat away from the body for fast evaporation, absorptive solutions help take the sting out of working in the heat.
Hydration
Heat-related illnesses such as heat rash, heat cramps, and heat stroke are closely associated with a worker’s hydra- tion level. Because heat stress is a widely recognized hazard, states including Cali- fornia and Washington have established specific workplace drinking water re- quirements as a major part of heat stress workplace controls. OSHA standards for both general industry and construction activities, as well as various safety guide- lines, mandate that adequate drinking water is available to workers at all work- placesandjobsites.
Dehydration risks are more commonly recognized for work performed outdoors in warm temperatures or for work in hot indoor environments such as foundries, bakeries, boiler rooms, kilns, etc. But they also exist for those toiling away in indoor job sites with poor airflow or workers who wear special protective clothing—such as non-permeable hazmat suits—as they face additional challenges.
Keeping clean, cool, and convenient water accessible to workers can prove to be more challenging than one would think. Hydration packs are a good way to not only solve that challenge, but also encour- age more intake of water. Because hydra- tion packs make water so readily available hands-free, workers can hydrate without taking a break from the task at hand.
Shade
When work must be done in the heat of the day, taking regular breaks and meals under the cover of shelters such as cano- pies, umbrellas, and other temporary struc- tures is important.
Providing effective job site shade may require planning. Shelters should block di- rect sunlight with a purpose to provide a re- covery area with access to fluids. Consider using areas with the natural shade of heavy tree cover or an awning or other temporary structure at the site. Take advantage of extra items such as a misting system, which can cool your shelter up to 30 degrees Fahren- heit below ambient air. If the structures are air-conditioned, even better!
In her role as Senior Product Manager at Ergodyne, Alsie Nelson focuses on develop- ing products and training programs to help workers combat temperature stress. She can be reached at alsie.nelson@ergodyne.com.
www.ohsonline.com
MARCH 2019 | Occupational Health & Safety 41