Page 61 - OHS, June 2021

The Signs of Heat Stress
Heat stress can present itself in a variety of ways, and while some are less severe, they are all potentially dangerous. The mildest forms are heat fatigue, in which workers begin to lose concentration and perform erratically, and heat rash, which occurs when sweat ducts get plugged and skin becomes agitated and painful. Heat stress may also cause heat cramps in the back, arms, legs and abdomen. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance caused by prolonged sweating are typically its causes.
More serious risks include heat exhaustion, heat syncope (fainting) and heat stroke. Heat syncope causes the person to faint because the pooling of blood in the lower extremities and dilated vessels in the skin lead to low blood pressure. Heat exhaustion can occur singularly or as part of syncope. Common symptoms include not only fainting but also diarrhea, nausea
and disorientation. ThThe most serious heat disorder is heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s systems of temperature regulation fail, and the internal body heat rises to deadly levels. Warning signs include confusion, fainting, convulsions and/or an absence of sweat. If a worker experiences a heat stroke, he/she must receive medical attention at a hospital.
Factors in Controlling Heat Stress
Already fast-paced and dangerous environments, industrial workspaces have a number of factors that make temperature control a difficult problem to tackle. For example, most loading docks are not air conditioned and, even if they are, the combination of high ceilings in the staging areas and frequently open doors make them hard to keep cool.
The increasingly hot weather patterns in the U.S. and the rapid expansion of online retailing are two other factors that only worsen the problem. Most U.S. states have seen average summer temperatures rise in the last decade, and scientists expect the trend to continue. Additionally, as online retailing has become even more pervasive, so has the demand for overnight shipping, pushing fulfilment operations and their employees to work faster than ever.
The Basics of Heat Stroke Prevention
Facility management can help prevent heat stroke in a number of ways. Water breaks should be encouraged and employees who have not previously worked in warm environments should be given time to acclimate. They should also be reminded to self- evaluate, as heat stroke warning signs are often overlooked by the victim. Those who display symptoms of heat stress should be moved to a cooler area and monitored, and anyone suffering from a heat stroke should immediately be taken to the hospital.
Temperature Control is Lawsuit Prevention
Uncomfortably hot facilities not only lower employee morale but also make them less efficient. Mental errors are more likely to occur when overheating causes an employee’s body to pump more blood to the skin in an attempt to cool itself off, leaving less blood available for vital organs like the brain. According to a study released by the National Bureau for Economic Research published by the Washington Post, economic productivity decreases by nearly two percent for every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) above 59 degrees Fahrenheit.
OSHA does not have specific regulations for indoor workplace temperatures, but the agency recommends a temperature range between 68 and 76 degrees. Twenty-eight states have adopted OSHA-approved plans for compliance with and enforcement of heat illness prevention plans. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and/or a lawsuit if workers become injured as a result of heat illness.
From an infrastructure standpoint, there are a number of facility upgrades that can have an immediate impact, preventing both employee illness and potential legal action, such as upgrading dock seals, implementing fabric curtain walls, installing fabric duct work and using HVLS fans to circulate air.
Using HVLS Fans to Control Heat
While adding air conditioning is the best-case scenario, it
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JUNE 2021 | Occupational Health & Safety 57
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