Heat Illness Prevention and Management

High temperatures on the job can do more than cause discomfort; they can lead to serious health risks if not properly managed. Heat illness prevention and management is critical in protecting workers, especially in physically demanding roles or hot environments. This fact sheet outlines common heat-related illnesses, warning signs, and practical steps employers and employees can take to stay safe and maintain productivity.

As global temperatures rise and extreme-heat events become more frequent, it’s essential for employers and their employees to take precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses. Anyone can suffer the effects of heat stress. People with higher-than-average exposure risk include those who:

• Have not had a chance to acclimatize
• Do strenuous activities in hot/humid conditions
• Wear heavy protective clothing and equipment
• Have an underlying medical condition, such as hypertension
• Are overweight or obese
• Are older and have heat intolerance
• Are taking certain medications

Employees in construction trades, firefighting, recreation and food services, utilities, agriculture, grounds maintenance, and oil and gas production are among those who are more likely to experience heat-induced illnesses. Examples of at-risk occupations also include mining, environmental hazard abatement, and manufacturing with heat-generated processes.

Recognizing Heat-related Illnesses

Leading contributors to the development of heat stress are water loss (dehydration), salt loss, and the “heat-battery effect,” which is remedied by cooling blood to lower body temperature. This trio is explained in a blog post on Heat Stress Prevention for Regular People by WorkCare Senior Vice President John Longphre, M.D., M.P.H. While hydration is typically emphasized, he recommends taking all three factors into consideration.

Heat stress can occur when dehydration and elevated body temperature intersect. Sweating helps the body dispel heat. About 60 percent of the body is water by weight; about 73 percent of the brain is water. Even a 2 percent loss of water through sweating can impair physical and cognitive function.

Heat-related illnesses range in severity from mild skin irritation to potentially fatal heat stroke. Refer to this OSHA website landing page  for specific symptoms and how to respond to them.

Prevention

Employees with indoor and outdoor heat exposure are advised to:

• Drink sips of water every 15 minutes
• Replace salt and other chemicals lost while sweating with beverages containing electrolytes
• Take frequent rest breaks in a shady place or air-conditioned indoor area
• Cool their body with water mist, ice or wet cloths
• Use the buddy system to limit overexertion and monitor each other for symptoms
• Outdoors, wear head and neck protection, loose clothing and sunscreen
• Do the most strenuous tasks during cooler times of the day or at night

Employers should be prepared to:

• Allow time for acclimatization and gradually increase workload
• Have cool, fresh drinking water readily available at jobsites
• Incorporate work/rest cycles and job rotation to reduce heat exposure
• Provide places where employee can rest, rehydrate and cool off
• Provide thorough training on heat illness prevention and response

Engineering controls may be used to help reduce heat exposure, for example, air conditioning, cooling fans and ventilation systems; reflective shields to redirect radiant heat; insulation of hot surfaces; and preventing steam leaks. Employers may also need to supply protective gear such as insulated or reflective clothing or suits equipped with a self-contained air conditioner or compressed air source.

WorkCare’s occupational health clinicians and industry subject matter experts are available to consult on workplace heat hazard reduction strategies. Contact us to learn more.