Heat stress

By
Manikandan.V
HSE Advisor
1

Heat Stress
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training you will:
Understand Heat Stress
Identify symptoms of Heat Stress
Actions to take if you or co-worker suffers from Heat Stress
Know how to prevent or minimize the effects

Causes of Heat Stress

Medical illness

High temperature
levels

High humidity
levels

The type of
clothing worn

Low levels of air

movement

The physical
activity carried
out
Heat sources in the area

HCP-I

Understanding Heat Stress

Types of Heat Stress
Heat Rash
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

Heat Rash
Symptoms:
Itchy Skin Rash
Also known as Prickly Heat
Occurs in hot, humid
environments where sweat
can't easily evaporate from
the skin.

Heat Rash
Actions to take
Get into Shade or Air Conditioning if Available
Do not scratch
Loosen your clothes
Seek Medical Advise
Take cool showers

Heat Cramps
Symptoms:
Pain in muscles

Muscle spasms
Tired
Nauseated
Moist cool pale skin

Most common in:

Calves
Arms
Abdomen
Back

Heat Cramps
Actions to take
Drink Sufficient Water
Get into Shade
Rest

Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms:

Headache
Feeling faint
Nausea
Heavy sweating
Rapid, weak heartbeat
Cool, moist skin
Low-grade fever
Intense thirst
Vomiting

Heat Exhaustion
Actions to take

Get into Shade

Lay down Person in front of fan
Drink Sufficient Water
Lay Down and Elevate Legs/Feet
Loosen/Remove Clothing
Pour Water on Person
Call for 1st Aid and Monitor Person

10

Heat Stroke
Symptoms:
Body Temperature Very High
Stop Sweating (skin dry)
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid and shallow breathing
Irritability or confusion
Possible unconsciousness
Possible Convulsions or Seizures
Hot red skin
Vomiting

11

Preventing Heat Stress

Prevention:
Drink water as per the following Table.
Danger category

Heat Index

Water Need

> 540

1 Glass / 10 Mins

Danger

39 0-53 0

1 Glass / 10 Mins

Extreme Caution

32 0-38 0

1 Glass / 15 Mins

Caution

27 0-31 0

1 Glass / 20 Mins

Extreme Danger

12

Preventing Heat Stress

Prevention:
Fluid Replacement
Work/Rest Cycles
Dont Skip Your Meals
Take Rest Breaks In Shade or Air Conditioning
Know Symptoms of Heat Stress
Avoid the Following - Risk Factors
Coffee
Alcohol
Caffeinated Drinks (Coke / Pepsi)
illegal Drugs
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs

13

Preventing Heat Stress

Prevention:
Everyone should monitor their co-workers
Always work in Buddy System)
Acclimatize to hot weather (10 14 Days)
Remind each other to drink water
If you run out of water, STOP work immediately and get water
Check your urine color
Ensure adequate ventilation
Rotate work (from hot to cool areas)
Identify symptoms or signs of heat stress.
Recovery Times
14

Factors to be considered
Job Location
Work Duration and Schedule ( To be Mentioned)
Cotton Clothing

15

Treating heat stroke

A person suffering from heat stroke requires medical attention
urgently and emergency services should be contacted as soon as
possible.
While waiting for emergency
services to arrive you should:
Move the patient to a cool
environment;
Soak the patients clothing with
water;
Apply cold packs continuously;
Place them in a tub of cool
water; and
Circulate the air around the
patient.

Do not give the patient any stimulants.

HCP-I

16

Heat Stress
What To Do Until The Medic Arrives
Transfer to shady area.
Lying position, feet slightly raised.
Use fan, cover with cold packs or cold wet towel
Give fluid

17

Warning!
You need to learn to drink water,
even when you are not thirsty
By the time you feel thirsty, you
are already 10% dehydrated
Urine color gives good
indication of hydration state ie. if
urine color is dark , drink more
water

18

Health Assessment / Monitoring

Flag System

Heat Index

Heat Stress
Level (Flag
Colour)

Rest Period (every

hour)

Below 38C

Green

No requirement

38C to 45C

Yellow

7 minutes

46C to 54C

Orange

10 minutes

55C or above

Red

15 minutes

When air temperature reaches 50C or higher no

work will be permitted and Black flags posted

19

Personal Monitoring
Age-Adjusted Maximum Heart Rate (MHR),
Age

MHR

Age

MHR

Age

MHR

Age

MHR

Age

MHR

20

140

30

133

40

126

50

119

60

112

21

139

31

132

41

125

51

118

61

111

22

139

32

132

42

125

52

118

62

111

23

138

33

131

43

124

53

117

63

110

24

137

34

130

44

123

54

116

64

109

25

137

35

130

45

123

55

116

65

109

26

136

36

129

46

122

56

115

66

108

27

135

37

128

47

121

57

114

67

107

28

134

38

127

48

120

58

113

68

106

29

134

39

127

49

120

59

113

69

106

20

Heat Stress Index

General Heat Stress Index

Danger
Category
IV.
Extreme
Danger

Heat
Index

Heat Syndrome

> 54

Heat Stroke or sunstroke imminent

III. Danger

39-53

II. Extreme
Caution
I. Caution

32-38
27-31

Sunstroke, Heat Cramps, or Heat Exhaustion likely. Heat Stroke

possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity.
Sunstroke, Heat Cramps, or Heat Exhaustion possible with
prolonged exposure and physical activity.
Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and physical activity.
*Note: Degree of heat stress may vary with age, health, and body characteristics

Relative Humidity

Air
Temp C

50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29

28

27

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

44
43
43
42
41
41
40
39
38
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
32
31
29
28
27

52
51
50
48
47
46
45
44
43
41
40
38
37
36
35
34
34
32
31
30
29

54
54
53
52
50
50
49
48
46
45
43
42
41
38
37
36
35
33
32
31
29

>54
>54
54
54
54
54
54
54
54
52
49
47
43
41
40
39
38
36
33
32
31

>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
54
54
52
49
43
42
42
41
38
36
34
32

>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
54
54
54
49
46
44
41
38
35
33

>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
54
53
52
50
46
41
38
36

>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
54
54
53
50
46
41
38

>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
>54
54
53
50
46
43

27

28

29

30

32

33

35

37

27

27

29

30

32

33

35

27

28

29

30

32

27

27

28

29

21
26

Summary
Heat
Heat stress
stress occurs
occurs when
when the
the body
body
is
is stressed
stressed because
because of
of overheating.
overheating.
Heat
Heat stress
stress includes,
includes, heat
heat rash,
rash,
heat
heat collapse,
collapse, heat
heat cramps,
cramps, heat
heat
exhaustion
exhaustion and
and heat
heat stroke.
stroke.

Heat
Heat stress
stress can
can be
be
prevented
prevented by:
by:
adapting
adapting work
work schedules;
schedules;
reducing
reducing heat
heat exposure;
exposure;
increasing
increasing air
air flow;
flow;
drinking
drinking water
water frequently;
frequently;
adapting
adapting to
to the
the heat;
heat;
having
having frequent
frequent rest
rest
breaks;
breaks;

Heat
Heat stroke
stroke can
can result
result in
in death.
death.
First
First aid
aid experts
experts should
should be
be called
called
immediately
immediately to
to treat
treat those
those
suffering
suffering
from
from heat
heat stroke.
stroke.

HCP-I

wearing
wearing protective
protective
clothing;
clothing; and
and
monitoring
monitoring yourself
yourself and
and
your
your environment.
environment.

22