If your business requires that employees spend extended periods working in temperatures of 75 degrees or more, work under strong sunlight or do labor that is physically exhausting and causes profuse sweating, they could be vulnerable to heat stress or other heat-related health problems. Some people are especially prone to illness and injury even in standard working conditions, let alone those involving excessive heat. These include pregnant women, the elderly or anyone with immune-deficient diseases.
Involving each of your employees in annual, or even semi-annual, OSHA-approved heat stress training reviews can greatly reduce incidences of accident and injury in the work place. It should also be compulsory for all new staff members to take heat stress training during their orientation, prior to starting on the job.
Problems related to heat and sun exposure include simple ailments such as mild headaches, fatigue and rashes to serious injuries such as severe sunburn, fatal heat stroke or skin cancer.
When incidents occur, it is imperative to identify and treat the symptoms immediately and efficiently. Your employees must comprehend that the knowledge they gain from their heat stress training needs to be taken very seriously. The ability to prevent injury, or treat injuries that occur, could be life-saving.What causes heat stress?
Protracted exposure to strong sun or excessively high temperatures can result in increased body temperatures. Extreme sweating causes fluid loss in a body and can lead to dehydration and a lack of necessary electrolytes.
What are the symptoms of heat stroke?
Heat stroke has many symptoms which can strike singularly or in a combination.
The most common of these symptoms are flushed skin or skin rash, chafing, feeling over-heated, being tired, strong thirst, headaches ranging from mild to violent, sunburn and dizziness. Left untreated, heat stroke symptoms can develop into clammy skin, paling of the skin, muscle spasms, cramps, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, increased temperature, burning or blistering of the skin, bewilderment, fainting, increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure. In extreme cases, it can even lead to coma or death.Heat stroke symptoms can lead to other, technically unrelated injuries, such as tripping, falling or bumping into things, all of which can lead to further injury such as damage to or loss of body parts or even death, when heavy machinery or power tools are involved.
Make sure you discuss the heat stress training with your staff, each time they go through it. Find out what their specific concerns are in regards to health and safety when dealing with excessive heat and sun exposure.
What first aid or other treatment should be performed?
When early signs of heat stress are present, the most obvious tactics are generally the best. First, take the sufferer into a cooler, shady location and have them sit or lie down. Apply a cold compress or damp cloth to pulse points to immediately reduce body temperature. Use a spray mister filled with cool water to reduce temperatures further and to aid rehydration. Give the injured party something to drink that contains electrolytes, to help replace what has been lost through sweating. Undo any tight clothing and remove anything unnecessary to allow the victim to breathe more easily and the body to relax. Use a fan or create a some form of a breeze to assist in the cooling process.
If the symptoms are severe, the sufferer may need to seek medical assistance with the company's health
department and get some rest. In extreme cases, the sufferer may require medical assistance.
If heat stroke occurs, it could become crucial to place the injured party into a tub of cold water in order to quickly reduce body temperature. A call should immediately be placed to either 911 or the company-specific emergency number and have the victim taken to a hospital straight away.
How can heat stress and related injuries be prevented?
While heat stress training is an imperative part of a safe work environment, employers must also talk to their employees and assist them in taking steps to avoid heat stress and related injuries. Be proactive in preventing such illness and injuries for a happier, healthier workforce.
Some steps in this approach are to ensure that all staff:
• Take breaks on a regularly scheduled basis
• Rest from time-to-time in a cool, shady location, preferably with access to a fan
• Apply plenty of UVA and UVB sunscreen
• Wear lightweight clothing in pale colors (while taking into account any protective equipment required for their specific jobs)
• Cover their heads and wear sunglasses to protect their head, face and eyes from the sun
• Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water or drinks containing electrolytes
Employers should also make sure that there is an adequate first aid kit easily available at all times. The kit should include salt, salt pills or electrolyte fluids. A cell phone or other method of instant communication should also be accessible to staff in case emergency services need to be contacted in the event of any severe injury or illness.