Heat and cold stress can affect workers throughout the year, not just during warmer or colder months while working outdoors. Employers should perform a workplace assessment to identify workers’ possible heat and cold exposure sources.

Sources of heat exposure to workers can come from:

• Hot indoor work environments,
• Working near equipment that generates heat, or
• Workers increased body temperature from wearing certain protective apparel.

Cold temperatures can impact workers working in a cold environment and place workers at risk for cold stress. While working in Western states like Arizona and California, many jobsites have cooler temperatures during the night shift and early in the morning. Also, workers could be exposed to cold stress in the underground construction of tunnels, shafts, chambers, and passageways.

Workers tend to think the more they sweat, the harder they must be working. This isn’t always true. Sweating is a natural way for the body to cool down. Workers can sweat while performing moderate to heavy work activities. But it might also indicate that the worker is experiencing heat stress when it occurs in conjunction with other symptoms like fainting, dizziness, or fatigue.

Drinking water will help reduce exposure to heat stress. It replenishes the body’s moisture lost from sweating. As workers sweat, they become dehydrated, increasing the effects of heat stress symptoms. Sugary drinks, like soda, and caffeinated beverages, should be limited too; these beverages can increase dehydration. Having dark-colored urine or a dry mouth might also be signs of heat stress.