DPJV - Heat Stress Awareness

Safety in the Heat
Heat Stress Awareness

& control
HSSE –OH- DPJV
Purpose
This training is to provide information on

identifying, evaluating and controlling
exposures, symptoms, control measures,
the importance of drinking water, risk
factors, emergency procedures when
working in the hot environment.
Introduction
Heat stress: A build up of heat in the body generated by
muscles from work or from the environment that raises
the body temperature > 370 C and threatens normal
functioning.
Heat illness: A breakdown of normal physical or mental

functioning that is caused by heat stress.
Body Heat + Environmental Heat > Heat Loss =

Heat Stress  Heat Illness
How it Happens
sun
Blood vessels dilate

work bring blood to surface Body tries to release heat by
conduction, convection, radiation
Heart
pumps
faster
body heat rises
Sweat: releases heat by evaporation
Introduction
Stage One • Activity and outside heat sources
raise the body’s core temperature
> 370 C (98.6 F).
• Heated blood pumps to the outer
layers of body, where it radiates
and conducts heat to the
environment, if cooler.
• If this fails to cool you, then you

sweat through pores on the skin
surface, which evaporates and
releases heat.
Introduction
Stage Two
• During heavy work, a body can
lose 1-2 liters of water per hour.
• After 2-3 hours of fluid loss, a

person is likely to:
- Become uncomfortable
- Lose endurance
- Feel hot
- Sense thirst
Introduction
Stage Three • The longer a body sweats, the less
blood there is to carry excess heat
to skin or oxygen and nutrients to
muscles.
• After 3 hours, a dehydrated worker

may experience:
- Headaches
- Muscle fatigue
37.8 o C - Loss of strength
- Loss of accuracy and
dexterity
- Heat cramps
- Reduced alertness
- Nausea
What exactly is in sweat?
• Water
• Sodium (salt) larger amount
• Potassium small amount
• Magnesium, Calcium Virtually none
Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance

of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the
nervous system.
Too little sodium leads to hyponatremia which can be a severe
condition and can be fatal.
Hydration (maintaining correct levels of body fluids) is the MOST

IMPORTANT personal factor for protection against heat illness.
importance of hydration
The best way to maintain blood volume and
therefore your capacity to stay cool is to
prevent dehydration by maintaining fluid
intake
Health problems associated
with heat stress?
Heat Stroke
Heat Rash Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion can occur when the temperature inside the body rises to
anything between the normal 37°C up to 40°C .
At this temperature, the levels of water and salt in the body begin to fall,
which can cause a person to feel sick, feel faint and sweat heavily.
Without treatment, Heat exhaustion could develop heatstroke.

Heat Exhaustion -
Recognition
What are the symptoms?
–Headaches;
–Dizziness or Lightheadedness;
–Weakness;
–Irritable,
–confusion;
–upset stomach;
–vomiting;
–decreased or dark colored urine;
–Profuse Sweating;
–Really Red Skin.
Without treatment, Heat exhaustion could develop heatstroke.

Heat Exhaustion -
What should you do? Seek medical help immediately
1. Act immediately.
2. Move the victim to a cool, shaded area to rest.
3. Loose and remove heavy clothing.
4. Ensure patient Lies down in a cool place,
5. Raise and support the legs
6. Provide a fast cooling: fan, cool water
7. Make Patient Drink plenty of cool (Not cold) water
Call 94031277 or ORPIC – 22105555 for Medical

Emergency Help.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is far more serious than heat exhaustion. It occurs when the
body can no longer cool itself and starts to overheat.
When the core temperature rises above 40°C the cells inside the body
begin to break down and important parts of the body stop working.
If left untreated, it can lead to complications, such as organ failure and

brain damage. Some people die from heatstroke.
Heat Stroke - Recognition
What are the symptoms?

•Dry ; hot, red skin that looks sunburned;
•Headache, dizziness, discomfort, nausea,
vomit
•Body temperature above 40oC, rapid pulse
•heart pounding,
•inability to think straight;
•lack of sweating, seizures or fits;
•unconsciousness with no response.
Heat Stroke - Treatment
Heat Stroke – Is A Medical Emergency
What should you do?
Call ambulance immediately
94031277
• Move the victim to a cool, shaded area. Don’t leave the person alone.
• Send someone to meet the ambulance.
• Loosen and remove any heavy clothing.
• Wrap casualty in a cold, wet sheet and keep it wet
• When the temperature has fallen to safe level, replace the wet sheet
with a dry one.
• If the temperature rises again, repeat the cooling process.
• If unconscious, place in recovery position
Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion
HEAT STROKE
HEAT EXHAUSTION
1. Dry, hot skin
1. Moist clammy skin
2.Very high body temperature 2. Normal or subnormal
3. Confusion body temperature
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful. Muscles may spasm or jerk
involuntarily. Heat cramps can occur work in a hot
environment or begin a few hours later.
Heat cramps usually involve muscles that are
fatigued by heavy work such as thighs and shoulders
Rest in cool environment; replace water and salts with sports drink.
No salt tablets
Heat Rash (prickly heat)
•occurs most commonly in hot, humid

environments
•sweat is not easily removed from skin
•sweat ducts become blocked, causing rash
•Consequences: Bacterial infections, chronic dermatitis
•Rx: cleanse and dry skin; apply soothing lotion or 1% topical salicylic
acid to inflamed area
•prevent by cool breaks and regular bathing and drying of skin
Personal Risk Factors
YOU Can Control
• Clothing
• Fitness
• Acclimatization
• Diet, drugs and drinks
• Personal beliefs
Poor Fitness-Medical Conditions
“Fit to Kill”
Obesity Old age Poor nutrition
Lack of heat acclimatisation Salt-free or salt-reduced diet

Lack of Acclimatization
The human body’s response to heat stress is quite resilient if given

several weeks for adaptation to occur. This process, called
acclimatization, involves internal adjustments, in response to the outside
environment, which improve heat tolerance.
Acclimatization Work load/ Time

• New employees exposure
Time
• Absent > 2 weeks Day 1 50%
• 5 day acclimatization Day 2 60%
period required Begin Day 3 70%
with 50% Day 4 80%
– Workload or
Day 5 90%
– Time exposure
Diet, Drinks and Drugs
• Low salt diet

• Caffeine (Red Bull)
• High sugar drinks
[sugar > 6%]
• ALCOHOL
• Drugs
Avoid to drink caffeine and alcohol as both are diuretics

(i.e. they cause increased rate of urination)
Personal Beliefs
• I’m tough ~ I don’t need a

water break
•I’m not thirsty ~ I don’t need to
drink
•I’ll lose pay if I take a water
break
Some Cultural Customs
• Drinking chilled water when hot = illness
• Dangerous not to cool off before taking a cold shower because it is
like throwing cold water on a hot engine
Personal Risk Factors
You Need to Know and Watch

• Chronic Medical Conditions
• Acute Illnesses
• Medications
• Age
Chronic Medical Conditions
Heart Disease
Diabetes
Illnesses
• Dehydration from:
– Stomach flu
– Fever
– Hang over
• Previous heat illness
• Infections
– Skin
– Respiratory
Medications
Certain medicines that reduces blood flow to the skin and slow down
sweat production and causes the body temperature to rise.
• Allergy medicines (antihistamines)

• Cough and cold medicines
• Blood pressure and heart medicines
• Diet pills (amphetamines)
More Hazards of Heat Stress
Risks of ACCIDENTS
– DIRECT
• Sweat in the eyes
• Slippery hands
• Fogged glasses
• Dizziness or fainting
– INDIRECT
• Physical discomfort
• Slower mental and physical job
reactions
• Diverted attention, loss of
concentration
• Lapse in judgment
• Irritability and anger
Prevention
What YOU can do to protect yourself!
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
WATER
Prevention
Take frequent, short breaks in cool, shaded areas to allow

the body to cool down
Prevention
Drink plenty of water

before you get to work,
at least 1 Litre
Maintain adequate
Hydration throughout
The day
Self Assess
Hydration
Prevention
Prevention
Self-pace work – do not
push beyond the bodies
limits.
Allow time at night to

recover from the heat
stress during the day
Provide a well balanced

health diet to help the body
to recover – avoid coffee,
cola and high sugar and
fatty foods
Key Points - Protect Yourself
• Learn the SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of heat illness

• Not to work alone- watch each other
• Watch the weather  assess your own risk
• Work easier until acclimatized
• Try to do heavier jobs in cooler hours
• Take rest periods
• Work in shade if possible; avoid full sun
• Wear lightweight clothing
• Know if you are at risk and be cautious
• Drink sufficiently and timely to replace lost fluids
Thermal Work Limit
Assessing Heat Stress – Equipment Available for TWL
Calor Heat Stress Meter Kestrel Instrument Scarlet Tech
(Australia) (USA) (Taiwan)
Remember!!!
What else can you do outside the workplace to prevent heat stress?
• Drink water outside of work not just caffeine (tea, coffee,

Coke) or alcohol (beer, spirits, wine)
• Good diet
• Good quality sleep

Remember!!!
Long term health effects of heat stress
• Kidney stones is the most common
• Cancer of the bladder has recently been reported
• Possibly other effects in certain individuals from too much

sugar i.e. when sweat replaced with full strength soft drinks
and caffeinated drinks
Remember!!!
WATER.
The work can’t get done
REST. without them
SHADE.
THANK YOU
hh- HSS

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Safety in the Heat

Heat Stress Awareness

This training is to provide information on

Heat illness: A breakdown of normal physical or mental

Body Heat + Environmental Heat > Heat Loss =

Blood vessels dilate

• If this fails to cool you, then you

• After 2-3 hours of fluid loss, a

• After 3 hours, a dehydrated worker

Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance

Hydration (maintaining correct levels of body fluids) is the MOST

Heat Rash Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion

Without treatment, Heat exhaustion could develop heatstroke.

Without treatment, Heat exhaustion could develop heatstroke.

Call 94031277 or ORPIC – 22105555 for Medical

If left untreated, it can lead to complications, such as organ failure and

What are the symptoms?

•occurs most commonly in hot, humid

•Consequences: Bacterial infections, chronic dermatitis

Obesity Old age Poor nutrition

Lack of heat acclimatisation Salt-free or salt-reduced diet

The human body’s response to heat stress is quite resilient if given

Acclimatization Work load/ Time

• Low salt diet

Avoid to drink caffeine and alcohol as both are diuretics

• I’m tough ~ I don’t need a

You Need to Know and Watch

Chronic Medical Conditions

• Allergy medicines (antihistamines)

What YOU can do to protect yourself!

Take frequent, short breaks in cool, shaded areas to allow

Drink plenty of water

Allow time at night to

Provide a well balanced

• Learn the SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of heat illness

• Drink water outside of work not just caffeine (tea, coffee,

• Good quality sleep

• Cancer of the bladder has recently been reported

• Possibly other effects in certain individuals from too much

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