Page 66 - OHS, JulyAugust 2023

HEAT STRESS Heat Stress Strategies Heat stress is a real threat—but you can prevent it by taking some key steps. JuYochi/Shutterstock.com BY KRISTAN FRANCE With this year expected to be the hottest on record, the risk to workers continues to climb. More hot days and more frequent heat waves pose a real threat when it comes to occupational illness and injuries. Continuous exposure to extreme heat and hot environments puts individuals at risk for heat stress symptoms, ranging from discomfort to serious illness. Those who work outdoors are the most vulnerable, but indoor workers are also at risk depending on the working environment. Age, medical history, physical fitness and medications can dramatically increase an individual’s vulnerability to the effects of heat stress. Consider this your wake-up call to the realities of heat stress. Not taking appropriate action to mitigate the risk could lead to higher operating costs, a loss in productivity, and serious injury including death. Perhaps the most commonly thought of and understood symptoms of heat stress are the easy-to-see, physical symptoms that can manifest anywhere that temperatures rise. Heat stress can contribute to known heat-related illnesses, such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke, specifically, is a life-threatening illness and should be treated as a medical emergency. The Costs of Heat Stress If you’ve ever needed to sit down and drink some water after a day of walking through an amusement park or at a long ball game, think of how difficult it is to make it through the day in a labor-intensive job. These labor-intensive jobs deserve special consideration as things heat up. Warehouses, industrial spaces, and commercial buildings often suffer a common problem: moderate to excessive heat that can impact safety and productivity. Depending on your location, you could be in violation of federal, state and local statutes such as OSHA, California Title 24 Part 6 and ASHRAE 55. Take direct action to keep workers safe and protect them from the effects of heat stress. Injuries can also occur in the workplace due to other contributing factors and the relation that they have to the unfavorable conditions brought on by these rising temperatures. The possibility of slips, trips and falls increases due to decreased visibility from fogged safety glasses or goggles. When grip is decreased on sweaty hands and fingers, fractures can occur if items are dropped from above. Workers who are distracted by fatigue and exhaustion can injure themselves due to inattention in hazardous environments. Heat stress can have detrimental effects on worker productivity. According to a study conducted by Olli Seppanen and William Fisk at Helsinki University of Technology in Finland, worker performance starts to decrease at temperatures above 77 °F and an additional 2% decrease in performance is seen for every additional 1.8 °F increase up to 90°F. Above 90°F, heat-related illness risk increases and safety becomes a greater concern. 66 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2023 www.ohsonline.com