HEAT STRESS FACT SHEET
Heat stress is a problem in many areas. Working near furnaces or ovens, checking plates just out of the hot rolling process, operating oxyacetylene cutting torches or welding, especially on hot days all create heat stress.
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“I was working as an oven tender. The temperature had been over 90°F for three days, with no relief in site. Then we had to fix a hydraulic line near the oven. I started to feel dizzy, and nearly fell.”
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What Is The Problem With Heat Stress?
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Working in the heat can cause heat fatigue, heat rash, fainting, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. When work is physically hard, then you generate additional heat.
Aside from these problems, heat increases the risk of injuries because of accidents caused by slippery palms as a result of sweating, fogged up safety glasses, and dizziness.
Severe burns can also occur as a direct result of accidental contact with hot surfaces and steam. The consequences of heat stress can depend on outdoor conditions, heat directly radiating onto you from nearby sources, and how hard you are working.
It also depends on how well you are acclimatized to the heat, that is, how well your body has adjusted to, or gotten used to the heat.
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Heat stress can cause (in order of severity, from lowest to highest):
HEAT RASH: 
Workers may experience heat rash or prickly heat from working in hot, humid environments. When sweat is not easily removed from the surface of the body and skin remains moist, sweat glands may become clogged and a rash can appear.
HEAT CRAMPS: 
Workers may suffer from brief, painful muscle cramps spasms. These usually occur during the first days of hot stressful work, especially if workers are not used to this activity. They may be related to drinking water to replace the fluids they lose from sweating, but not replacing the body’s loss of salt.
HEAT EXHAUSTION: 
Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid from the body. A worker with heat exhaustion continues to sweat, but their body can’t keep up with the heat. The worker may have a headache, be fatigued, or have flu like symptoms. In most cases the worker needs to rest, cool down, and drink plenty of liquids.
HEAT STROKE: 
Heat stroke is the most serious of heat related health problems. This can occur when the body stops adjusting to the hot temperature and sweating can’t keep up with the heat. Heat stroke is characterized by hot, dry, red skin that is warm or hot to the touch.
Medical attention is needed immediately!
What Can Be Done About Heat Stress?
There is no specific OSHA temperature that is considered “too hot to work.” However, OSHA has issued citations using the general duty clause 5(a)1, which states that the employer must provide a workplace free of “recognized hazards.”
Heat stress is a recognized hazard capable of causing physical harm to employees.
Methods OSHA recommends to reduce heat stress that should be part of a program:
§ Permit workers to drink water when they wish
§ Provide a work/rest schedule so exposure time to hot environments is reduced and/or work rate is reduced
§ Training program about the effects of heat stress and how to recognize heat-induced illness
§ Acclimation program for new employees or those who have been away from hot environments for three or more days
§ Procedures to follow in case of heat-related emergencies
§ First aid for employees affected by heat stress
NIOSH recommends steps to lessen heat stress mainly mechanizes difficult jobs, train workers about heat stress and have a work-rest schedule:
§ Postpone non-essential tasks
§ Make sure workers have had time to get used to hot environments, and only those acclimatized (those who have gotten used to the heat) do the work.
§ Provide additional workers
§ Use fans and blowers to cool areas
§ Provide cool areas to rest (76°F)
§ Workers should drink 5-7 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes.
There are ways to measure heat stress in the environment. It is not necessary to measure workers’ temperatures.
ACGIH, a non-governmental organization recommends measuring heat stress with a Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT). The WBGT combines consideration of humidity, air temperature and a heat source (sun, oven, etc.). Depending on the temperature, work and rest should be balanced.
Under very hot conditions, ACGIH recommends 25% work; 75% rest.
Some United Steelworkers’ collective bargaining agreements have specific provisions for heat relief such as:
- Air conditioned break areas:
- Workers are provided with cool water and sports drinks:
- Workers have portable cooling devices in their work area:
- Air conditioned control rooms:
- Workers in high heat work areas rotate work
- Work shifts are adjusted:
Most importantly: if you start to feel faint or overheated, get help.
Exit the hot area to a cooler area and find a way to cool down. Heat can be very dangerous; there are guidelines for evaluating heat stress.
OSHA developed a heat stress card covering the signs, symptoms and remedies for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat Stress Card in Spanish:
SOLUTIONS
Ideally, ways can be found to cool down a hot environment. If that can not happen, the following recommendations will help workers who have to work in hot environments:
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Take frequent breaks:
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The harder you are working physically, the more frequent and longer are the breaks.
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OSHA calls this a work/rest regiment
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Go to an air conditioned area to cool off
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Drink plenty of liquid (Salt tablets are not recommended; there is enough salt in our usual diet
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Take time to get used to the heat
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Check on co-workers and make sure no one is in trouble.
Additional links to key resources:
OSHA has a reference page about heat:
NIOSH has information about the hazards of heat stress:
Click Here to download a printable copy of the Heat Stress Hazards Fact Sheet
These documents are Acrobat Reader PDFs.
If you do not have Acrobat ReaderCLICK HEREfor a free download.
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