Employers have a duty to keep their workers safe from potential hazards that can cause death or serious harm, including heat-related hazards. Hot weather, especially when combined with strenuous physical labor, can cause a worker’s body temperature to rise to unsafe levels. A person’s body usually cools itself through sweating, but sweating is often not enough in hot and humid weather, and a dangerous heat illness can occur. Heat illnesses include the following:
- Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by sweat not evaporating from the skin.
- Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that typically affect a person’s arms, legs or abdomen.
- Heat exhaustion is a more serious condition than heat rash and heat cramps. It occurs due to the loss of body salts and fluid from sweating. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, thirst, fast heartbeat, irritability, heavy sweating, and cool and moist skin.
- Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It is a medical emergency that may result in death. It occurs when a person’s body can no longer regulate its core temperature and cannot cool down. Signs include confusion, rapid heart rate, fainting, unconsciousness, high body temperature, seizures, excessive sweating or lack of sweating, and skin that is red, hot, dry or damp.
The risk of heat illness increases with age, poor diet, being overweight, insufficient liquid intake, poor physical condition, certain medical conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, heart or lung disease) and certain medications (e.g., vasoconstrictors, diuretics, antidepressants, stimulants or antipsychotics).
To protect their workforce from these illnesses, employers must implement heat safety policies and procedures. This includes ensuring workers in hot environments:
- Wear loose, light-colored clothing when safe to do so, along with a hat or hard hat.
- Take breaks to rest in the shade and remove outer protective gear during their break.
- Gradually build up to heavier work to acclimatize to the conditions and be especially vigilant during their first week of work.
- Avoid overexerting themselves during peak temperature periods.
- Drink liquids frequently, even if they do not feel thirsty. They should avoid very sugary liquids and those containing caffeine and alcohol. Very cold drinks can also cause stomach cramps.
- Wear sunscreen to help prevent sunburn.
- Stay away from hot and heavy meals, which may add heat to the body.
If heat illness occurs in workers, employers should take the following actions for each type of illness:
- Heat rash—Keep the affected area dry and have the individual work in a cooler, less humid area.
- Heat cramps—Move the worker to a shady, cool area and have them rest and hydrate. Follow up with a medical examination if cramps remain.
- Heat exhaustion—Move the worker to a shady, cool area and have them sit or lie down with their legs slightly elevated. Loosen or remove clothing and cool their body by applying icepacks, cold compresses, or cool, wet towels. Provide cool water, do not allow a return to work that day, and follow up with a medical exam if symptoms worsen or do not improve.
- Heat stroke—Immediately call an ambulance, as this is a life-threatening emergency. While waiting for medical professionals to arrive, move the worker to a shady, cool area; loosen clothing and remove excess clothing; fan them (if the heat index is below the high 90s Fahrenheit); wet them or immerse them in cool water; and apply icepacks, cold compresses, or cool, wet towels to their body (cold packs on armpits, groin and neck). Provide fluids (water) if they are conscious. Do not leave them and call the hospital for further instructions if help is delayed.
By recognizing the symptoms of heat illnesses, knowing how to respond to them and implementing prevention strategies, employers can help their employees remain safe.
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