Employee Handout - Heat Stress

What are the risk factors?

Below are personal risk factors that vary by individual:

• Age,
• Weight,
• Degree of physical fitness,
• Metabolism,
• Medications,
• Use of alcohol or drugs,
• Water consumption, and
• Caffeine consumption.

Environmental

Environmental risk factors also play a role in heat-related stress, including:

• Air temperature,
• Humidity,
• Radiant heat from the sun and other sources,
• Conductive heat sources,
• Air movement,
• Workload severity and duration; and
• Protective clothing.

Keep in mind, another factor is whether or not you are acclimated to the heat. By gradually being exposed to working in hot conditions, your body develops a greater tolerance for the heat.

Can personal protective equipment add to the hazard?

Yes, sometimes heavy or impermeable protective clothing can contribute to a worker’s exposure to the heat. However, there are specialized types of PPE that can be worn under other types of protective clothing to cool workers, such as ice vests, water-cooled garments, and air supply systems.

Work practices can help control heat hazards

A more common technique is to wear wet clothing, headbands, or bandannas. Other work practices that help control exposure to the heat include:

• Using intermittent rest periods to recover from the heat.
• Drinking about 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish body fluids.
• Using relief workers.
• Using the buddy system (work in pairs) when working in hot conditions.
• Pacing the work or reducing the physical demands of the work.
• Providing cool recovery or shaded rest areas.
• Scheduling work for cooler times of the day or when heat producing equipment isn’t being operated.
• Wearing light, loose-fitting, breathable (like cotton) clothing.

HANDOUT: Heat and Sun Exposure in Construction