Health & Safety News

Heat Stress (Heat Stroke)
 The only thing worst than working outside in the dead of winter, is working outside when you're body isn't used to the heat. Summer brings about a much needed change in weather, but with it come certain risks -- One of which is commonly known as heat stress or heat stroke and has a fatality incidence of roughly 20 percent.

If you’re a do-it-yourself homeowner, remember heat stress is a very real threat. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all possibilities for people exposed to warm weather, humid conditions and/or moderate to strenuous work. If you’re a contractor, keep those water coolers full with lots of disposable cups available. Remind workers to buddy up when working in remote work locations.

“Workers should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, wear light colored, loose fitting clothing and to pace themselves during the first week of hot weather,” says health and safety expert Mark Close. “Even the most physically fit workers can take 5-7 days to acclimatization to hot temperatures.”

People who work outdoors can greatly minimize their susceptibility to heat related illnesses by:

  • being physically fit
  • eating light meals with moderate amounts of salt (avoid salt tablets)
  • eating fresh foods high in potassium (oranges, bananas, cooked spinach, and baked potato)
  • avoiding caffeinated drinks
  • avoiding alcohol
Workers who are demonstrating symptoms of heat stress need to be removed from work tasks and taken to a shaded area, cooled down and given fluids and allowed to rest. If a worker becomes incoherent, delirious, is sweating or not: they need to be cooled down immediately and taken in for emergency medical evaluation. Signs and symptoms of heat stress include:
  • cramping
  • profuse sweating
  • high heart rate
  • headache
  • nausea
  • incoherent
  • unusual behavior
“Heat stroke is a killer and just doesn’t happen, it builds over a period of time and the final onset of life threatening symptoms can be very quick.” says Mark Close . “Fortunately, trained personnel can be alerted to the very first symptoms of heat related illnesses if they are provided some rudimentary awareness training.”

For more information, contact:
Mark Close, The Close Group