HEAT STRESS

WHAT IS IT AND
HOW IT AFFECTS YOU?
Unrestricted
 External Factors
Affecting Heat Stress
• Air movement
• Clothing
• Radiant heat ( hot vessels and
sun)
• Humidity
• Work rate (Mild/ Moderate/
Heavy)
If these
not controlled
HEAT STRESS MAY
OCCUR!!!
 Effects of Heat stress on your
body

• Prickly heat (skin rash)

• Muscle Cramps (pain and
tension in muscles)
• Exhaustion (feeling weak)
• Syncope (fainting)
• Heat Stroke (life threatening!)
 Heat Cramps
Your body is telling you to
slow down!
You Feel:
• Moist cool
pale skin
• Nauseated
• Tired
• Muscle
twitching
• Painful
muscle
cramps
 Heat Exhaustion
your body is starting to
loose the battle!
You Feel:
 Heavy sweating
 Weak and fatigued
 Headache and dizzy
 Nauseated
 Rapidly breathing
 Intense thirst
 Vomiting
 Heat Stroke
“Life threatening!”
(The body can no longer regulate
it’s own temperature!)
 Hot red skin
 NO sweating
 Rapid pulse
 Difficulty in
breathing
 Confusion
 Vomiting
 Coma
 Risk Factors

☀ Dehydration,
☀ Lack of acclimatization, (from
cool climate)
☀ Unfit,
☀ Lack of sleep,
☀ Tea/ Coffee and
alcohol consumption,
☀ Cold / Flu / medical
condition,
☀ Some medications and drugs.
 Prevention

Start drinking water

( before you start work),
Drink water
( As much as you need),
Check your Urine colour
(note the urine color),
Ensure adequate ventilation,
Rotate work
( from hot to cool areas),
Report to your Supervisor or the
Nurse at first sign of any problem,
Keep an eye on
your work mates
 Warning!

You need to learn to drink, even

when you are not thirsty.
By the time you feel thirsty you are
already 10% dehydrated
Urine colour gives indication of
hydration state ie,
(if urine is dark drink more)
 Heat Exposure

Work Load / WBGT

Work / Rest Period
(Each Hour)
Light Medium Heavy
30 26.7 25 Continuous Work

30.6 28 25.9 45 Min. Work / 15 Min. Rest

31.4 29.4 27.9 30 Min. Work / 30 Min. Rest

32.2 31.1 30 15 Min. Work / 45 Min.

REFERENCE
Light Work = In shade, with out Air Conditioner with
minimum movements. Example Office Work, Fabricators in
Fabrication Shops etc..
Medium Work = Under Direct Sun, but minimum movement.
Example Steel Fixer, Welders etc..
Heavy Work = Under Direct Sun with maximum movements.
Example Scaffolding, civil work, Manual Handling etc.
Work / Rest Period
PREVENTION
PREVENTION
The color of Urine tells you
how dehydrated you are!

Extremely Dehydrated
Drink Water Immediately

Mildly Dehydrated
Drink More Water

Not Dehydrated