Are You Facing Heat Stress in the Workplace?

When working outdoors in the summer heat or indoors with excessive humidity or poor air circulation, heat stress is a risk that’s often not taken seriously enough by employers and employees alike.

While this type of workplace injury might make you eligible for workers’ compensation, it’s preferable not to become ill. Here’s a closer look at the risk of working in the heat and how to best manage it.

What Is Heat Stress?

When your body can’t get rid of excess warmth, heat stress results. A combination of environmental factors, metabolic heat, and clothing can determine the severity of this condition. Occupational heat stress is common because a person may have less control over their environment and clothing, such as when a construction worker spends much of their workday in the hot sun with thick gloves, a hard hat, and other safety accessories. 

The term covers several illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, cramps, or rash, with differing symptoms and treatment methods. Depending on the severity, signs include excessive or inefficient sweating, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. If left untreated, heatstroke can occur, with serious symptoms including fainting and collapsing that can be fatal.

What Employees Are Most at Risk?

Workers who have diabetes or a disease affecting the lungs, heart, or kidneys are at an elevated risk of experiencing heat stress. Seniors and those on certain medications, such as stimulants that treat ADHD, must also be careful because their bodies are less able to regulate heat.

Migraine and allergy medicines and diuretics are examples of drugs that reduce sweating and elevate the risk of dehydration and heat stress.

Consuming excessive caffeine, sedatives, and diet pills may also worsen the impact of symptoms. When these health factors are combined with a hot and/or humid work environment for much of the day, the risk of heat stress increases.

How Can You Avoid It?

To avoid experiencing a workplace injury due to heat stress, tell your employer if you are in a high-risk category and ask for reasonable accommodations. One example is performing heavier work in the coolest part of the day or in a shaded area, if possible.

If you must work outside in heat doing a job requiring physical exertion, be aware that the body takes a couple of weeks to adjust to temperatures close to 90 degrees F, so watch for signs of discomfort in that early period following a vacation or during a new heatwave.

Whenever possible, wear light-colored cotton clothes to reflect light and give the air access to the skin, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks out of direct sunlight or heat. Use fans to keep the air cool and well-circulated in indoor areas with inadequate air conditioning, especially when your work requires personal protective equipment (PPE) that can increase body temperature.

If you’ve experienced a workplace injury due to heat stress or unsafe working conditions, seek legal help from The Law Offices of Gallner & Pattermann. These dedicated attorneys offer more than 45 years of experience in helping injured workers throughout the Council Bluffs, IA, area navigate the workers’ comp process and receive all the benefits available to them.

To learn more about their services, visit their website. To schedule a free consultation with an attorney, call (712) 323-0999.