Know the Signs of Heat Stress and How to Protect Your Employees
June 15, 2024 
Heat stress | Hortica
Working in the growing industry, you and your employees perform tasks in all kinds of conditions, including high temperatures. It might be part of the job, but don’t overlook the risks associated with a heat-intensive environment—namely heat stress.
It’s important to educate and recognize the potential dangers heat stress poses. By understanding the signs of heat stress, the challenges it presents, and how to effectively manage it, you can help protect your workers’ health and well-being.
The Impact of Heat Stress on Worker Productivity and Health
Working in hot and humid conditions can take a serious toll on your employees’ well-being and effectiveness on the job. When the heat is on, your team may struggle with:
- Increased fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Slower reaction times
These symptoms can lead to:
- An increase in errors
- Higher risk of accidents
- Lower work quality
What’s more, the effects of heat stress can extend beyond the workplace. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause long-term health problems such as kidney damage, cardiovascular issues, and even premature death.
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to prioritize your workers’ well-being and implement strategies to mitigate the risks associated with heat stress.
Recognizing Heat Stress Symptoms
Heat stress is a combination of factors—temperature, humidity, radiant heat—that can lead to heat strain. Once a person gets to the point of heat strain, it can trigger a range of conditions that vary in severity.
One of the key aspects of preventing heat-related illnesses in the workplace is identifying the signs of heat stress. Symptoms include:
- Development of rashes
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headache
- Heavy sweating
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rapid heartbeat
Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses
It’s essential to take proactive measures and establish a response plan for addressing heat stress that’s tailored to your operations and workforce. Here are some strategies to help protect your team from heat-related health issues:
Conduct a Heat Stress Risk Assessment
A crucial first step in managing heat stress is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the environments your employees work in.
Identify areas and tasks that expose your workers to heat stress. By pinpointing these high-risk zones, you can prioritize your efforts and allocate resources effectively to mitigate the potential for heat-related illnesses.
Provide Heat Stress Training
Educate your team on heat-related illnesses. In your training sessions, be sure to cover:
- How to recognize symptoms of heat stress
- How to treat heat-related illnesses
- Protocols when working in hot environments
- Risk factors
Implement Engineering Controls
Engineering controls are designed to reduce the temperature workers are exposed to. This can include:
- Air conditioning
- Fans
- Insulation
- Shielding radiant heat sources
- Ventilation
Establish Administrative Controls
Administrative controls involve adjusting work practices and schedules to reduce heat exposure. Examples include:
- Enforcing a buddy system during heat advisory days
- Implementing worker rotation
- Increasing work-rest cycles that allow employees to take regular breaks in cooler areas
- Providing time for new and returning workers to acclimate to the heat
- Reducing workloads
- Scheduling work during cooler times of the day and year
- Shutting down heat-generating equipment when it’s not needed
- Staying hydrated—regularly drink water or electrolyte drinks
Wear Appropriate Clothing
Encourage your employees to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and breathable fabrics that allow for adequate air circulation. Avoid double-layered, woven clothing.
In outdoor settings, provide wide-brimmed hats and UV-protective clothing.
If workers aren’t around machinery or equipment that requires protective clothing, they should wear no more clothing than is appropriate and needed for safety. If personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, ensure it’s designed for use in hot environments and doesn’t contribute to heat retention.
Monitor Weather Conditions
Review the weather report daily and be prepared to adjust work schedules as needed. That may include pausing any non-critical jobs until cooler temperatures prevail.
Develop an Emergency Response Plan for Heat-Related Incidents
Have a written heat stress prevention program in place so you and your employees can understand protective measures and know how to respond. In addition to the recommendations above, consider including these elements in the plan:
- Emergency medical procedures
- Employee training and supervisor awareness
- Plans for acclimating workers with a structured work schedule
- Methods to monitor the worksite temperature
Valuable Benefits of Proactively Managing Heat Stress
By reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries, you can help minimize healthcare costs, lost work hours, and decreased productivity. Additionally, demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being can improve morale, job satisfaction, and retention rates.
As always, these tips are meant to help you get started, but it’s best to talk with your team and local experts to develop a plan specific to your operations. You can also visit OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention page for additional resources. For additional questions related to heat and job-site safety, feel free to reach out to the experts at Hortica.
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