Procedure: Working in a Hot Environment
PROCEDURE: WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT
RISK RANKING: MEDIUM
HAZARD ASSESSMENT:
HAZARD / POTENTIAL EFFECT / CONTROL1 Heat fatigue, heat / 1. Workers could suffer / 1. Ensure adequate
stroke and heat rash. / personal injury from being over exposed to hot work environments. / drinking water. Leave hot work environment at regular intervals. Wear appropriate clothing so as not to induce heat fatigue.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT: There is no specific personal protective equipment to avoid heat stress. Wear standard FR work wear, sunscreen, Hardhat, steel toed work boots, personal gas monitor and drinking water for rehydration.
SAFETY NOTE:
This hazard assessment defines heat stress and provides methods of treating the condition. Heat stress is the total heat load imposed on the body.
PROCEDURE:
1. Management must ensure facilities have adequate exhaust ventilation and
spot cooling in the work area to reduce temperature.
2. Cover steam tanks to eliminate steam leaks and reduce humidity in the work place.
3. Provide an adequate supply of drinking water.
4. Schedule work in teams to shorten the duration of heavy work for individual employees. Control physical activities.
5. Start work earlier in the morning hours and quit earlier in the afternoon hotter hours.
6. Ensure workers wear appropriate protective clothing to protect against hot surfaces.
7. Reduce workers exposure to radiant heat.
8. Install blinds or curtains to windows to reduce direct sunlight.
9. Sunglasses (safety) and sunscreen should be worn.
Procedure: WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT
- 1 - Date of Preparation: November 23, 2004 Date of Revision: November 23, 2004
Date of Last Review: February 15, 2010
10. Aluminized reflective clothing near sources of radiant heat such as hot furnaces.
11. Reduce the pace of work, take breaks more often to rest and rehydrate.
Health Problems Resulting From Heat Exposure:
Heat rash — tingling and burning of the skin, red itchy rash. Sweat glands plugged due to prolonged exposure of skin to heat, humidity, and sweat. Treatment — thorough drying, cool showers, calamine lotion.
Prevention — keep skin as dry as possible, rest in cool place, shower often, change clothes frequently, and keep skin clean.
Heat cramps — painful spasms of muscles that do the hardest work i.e. in the arms, legs and abdomen.
Treatment — massage the muscle(s), eat salt-containing foods (unless allergic).
Prevention — warm up muscles before heavy work, take rest breaks, eat a normal healthy diet.
Fainting — increased flow of blood to the skin to get rid of heat means less blood to the brain.
Treatment — lie down in a cool place, drink cool fluids to lower body temperature, and see a doctor if fainting continues.
Prevention — drink plenty of fluids at regular intervals; avoid standing still in one position, and move around.
Heat exhaustion — tired, weak, dizzy, clammy skin, slow weak pulse. Pale or flushed skin color. Higherthan normal heart rate (160 to 180 beats/minute).
Treatment — lie down with knees raised, drink cool not cold fluids, and contact a doctor if conditions do not improve.
Prevention — take several days off to acclimatize to the heat, drink plenty of fluids at regular intervals, and take rest breaks in a cool place.
Heat stroke — person usually stops sweating, body core temperature is high (40°C-43°C), skin is hot and dry. Person experiences headache, dizziness, confusion, may lose consciousness or have convulsions. Fatal if treatment is delayed.
Treatment — this is a medical emergency. Person must be taken to hospital ASAP, move worker to a cool or shaded area, remove clothing and wrap in wet sheet, pour on chilled water but avoid over cooling.
Prevention — take time to acclimatize before starting work, drink plenty of fluids at regular intervals, tale rest breaks in a cool place, wear clothing appropriate to the conditions, and follow a work/rest schedule.
Note: always leave an individual in the recovery position if unattended.
Procedure: WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT
- 2 - Date of Preparation: November 23, 2004
Date of Revision: November 23, 2004
Date of Last Review: February 15, 2010
Remember: Don’t rely on thirst as an indicator of when to drink. By the time a person is thirsty they are well past the point at which more fluids should
have been drunk. Everyone knows their own body and how it reacts in situations so listen and use precautions, also keep an open eye out for your fellow workers. This should be discussed in a prejob meeting before work commences.
Safety Note: Salt pills are rarely required and their use is not recommended, a person can have too much salt. The normal salt content of a diet usually provides enough salt to replace what is lost in sweating.
Procedure: WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT
- 3 - Date of Preparation: November 23, 2004
Date of Revision: November 23, 2004
Date of Last Review: February 15, 2010