TOOLBOXTALK:HeatRelatedIllnessPreventionBy:DerekPeoples,TLWallaceConstruction

February2018

HeatRelatedIllnessPreventionFactorsthatmaycauseheatrelatedillness

• Hightemperatureandhighhumidity• Directsunexposure• Limitedairmovement• Physicalexertion• Useofbulkyprotectiveclothingandequipment• Poorphysicalconditionorongoinghealthproblems• Somemedications• Previousheat-relatedillness

Whentheairtemperatureisclosetoorwarmerthannormalbodytemperature,coolingofthebodybecomesmoredifficult.Bloodcirculatedtotheskincannotloseitsheat.Sweatingthenbecomesthemainwaythebodycoolsoff.Butsweatingiseffectiveonlyifthehumiditylevelislowenoughtoallowevaporationandifthefluidsandsaltsthatarelostareadequatelyreplaced.Healthproblemscausedbyhotworkenvironments

Heatstrokeisthemostseriousproblem.Itoccurswhenthebodytemperaturereachescriticallevels(greaterthan103);thesweatingmechanismfailsandthebodyisunabletocooldown.Heatstrokecanbefatal.Warningsignsvary,butmayincludethefollowing:red,hot,anddryskin(nosweating),rapidpulse,throbbingheadache,dizziness,nausea,confusion,andunconsciousness.

• Callformedicalassistance• Getthevictimtoashadyarea• Coolthemdownwithwhatevermethodsyouhave;Example:coolwateronarag• Monitortemperatureandcontinuecoolinguntilbodytemperatureisbelow103.• Donotgivethevictimfluidstodrinkduringaheatstroke

Heatexhaustionisamilderformofheatrelatedillnessthatcandevelopafterseveraldaysofexposuretoheatandinadequateorunbalancedreplacementoffluids(softdrinksandalcohol).

Warningsignsmayinclude:heavysweating,paleness,musclecramps,fatigue,dizziness,headache,nausea,fainting,increasedpulse,andshallowbreathing.Seekmedicalattentionifsymptomsaresevere,ifthevictimhasheartproblemsorhighbloodpressure,orifthesymptomslastlongerthanonehour.

Preventionofheatrelatedillness• Drinkplentyofcoolwater–atleastonecupevery15-20mins.Avoidcaffeine.• Takefrequentshortbreaksinshadedareas–allowyourbodytocooldown.• Avoideatinglargemeals.• Allownewemployeestobuildtolerancetoworkingalldayintheheat.• Keepaneyeonyourfellowworkersandlookforanyofthepreviouslydiscussedsymptomssuchas

confusion,dryskin,anddizziness.