How to prevent heat stress at work

What is heat stress?

Heat stress happens when your body loses its ability to self-regulate its temperature. It’s a condition caused by a buildup of body heat generated by several factors, including the environment, physical effort, existing health and acclimatization of the worker, and the clothing and equipment the worker is wearing.

Working in hot environments for a prolonged period can drive your internal body temperature several degrees above the average temperature of 37°C, which overwhelms the body’s natural cooling systems. This is when danger occurs.

Heat exposure can affect worker performance and productivity but, in more severe cases, can cause heat-related illnesses and even death.

The most severe heat illness is heat stroke (with symptoms including headache, confusion and loss of consciousness). Other heat-related conditions include cramps, rash, exhaustion, and syncope (fainting while standing).

Before working in a very hot environment, managers should ensure workers are acclimatized to the heat, trained to recognize the symptoms of heat stress in themselves and their co-workers and have a heat stress prevention plan in place.

Occupational heat stress: Know the risks

In 2022, Canadians experienced record-setting summer temperatures, and in 2023 Canadians could be in for another scorching season, according to the Farmer’s Almanac’s long-range forecast. The report says most regions in Canada will experience ‘unrelenting heat’ with some temperatures expected to reach over 32°C from June to September.

Working in the intense heat of the summer sun can put workers at risk of heat stress. As summer temperatures rise yearly, employers and workers must take the necessary steps to protect themselves and each other from heat exposure.

Heat stress can affect workers in many different environments, including:

• In foundries, steel mills, smelters, glass factories, and furnaces, where extremely hot or molten material is the primary heat source.
• In outdoor occupations, such as construction, road repair, open-pit mining and agriculture, where the sun is the primary heat source.
• In laundries, restaurant kitchens, bakeries, and canneries, where high humidity adds to the heat burden.

So, whether you work outdoors as a tree planter, inside a mill, or work year-round in hot environments like bakeries, food processing plants and underground mines, you may be at risk of heat exposure.

Of course, you can’t change the weather or the temperature you work in, but you can change your approach to working in the heat. When the temperatures are high, and the job involves physical labour, workers and employers can take preventive measures to protect themselves and each other.

Top tips for heat stress prevention

There are preventive measures employers can take to ensure optimal worker health and reduce the risk of heat stress in the workplace.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

Tip #1. Heat Stress Measurement:

Occupational heat stress management is often considered complex and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Heat stress monitors are incredibly useful for monitoring humidity and temperature and should be part of your heat illness prevention plan.

Standard thermometers only measure air temperature. Heat stress monitors consider air temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and airflow—making them the preferred way to measure workplace environmental heat on-site.

Heat stress monitors can be placed in the work area or worn as a wearable device, allowing managers and workers to get real-time insights into their work environment.

Heat Stress planning and prevention: A final word.

While you can’t control the weather, you can control how you and your team handle it. From knowing the risk factors and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, ensuring proper hydration and fighting back the heat with the right gear, you can make relatively minor adjustments that significantly impact your crew’s health, safety and productivity.