Safety Moment
Recognize and prevent heat stress
Heat stress is a common hazard affecting workers exposed to extreme heat, either outdoors during
summer months or indoors year-round. To prevent and manage heat-related illnesses, take a few minutes
to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of heat stress and the recommended precautions against it.
Types of heat stress disorders
When your body’s temperature rises and its cooling
mechanism cannot cool it down to 38°C or less, your
body becomes stressed and will likely experience
the following heat-related illnesses:
● Heat rash (plugged sweat glands);
● Heat cramps (salt loss from sweating);
● Heat exhaustion (confusion, fatigue and feeling
faint); and
● Heat stroke (confusion, seizures, losing conscious-
ness and passing out).
For more about heat stress signs and symptoms and
how to prevent it, please watch this new QatarEnergy
video providing invaluable guidance and insights.
Preventing heat stress
It is crucial to educate everyone on heat stress
prevention, including its causes, degrees of severity,
types and impacts on health and safety. To prevent
heat stress, here are some tips for managing heat
stress:
● Make sure you are fit and ready for work and
C O R P O R AT E H S E Q
inform the health centre of any medical conditions
that increase susceptibility to heat stress, such as
diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. If
you are pregnant, check with your doctor about
working under heat stress conditions.
● Hydrate and nourish adequately before work and
hydrate again every 20 minutes in hot conditions.
● Avoid thick or heat-trapping clothing.
● Include heat stress prevention discussions in
toolbox talks, risk assess all activities and ensure
everyone follows permit to work guidelines and
emergency procedures.
● Ensure calibrated heat monitoring devices are on-
site and regularly measure the heat index.
● Secure shelters and rest areas with adequate and
cool ventilation and ensure access to cool drinking
water on-site.
● Adhere to work and rest cycles and job rotation.
● Watch for early symptoms of heat stress among
your co-workers.
Addressing signs and symptoms
In addition to the previously mentioned symptoms, heat
stress signs include rapid pulse, increased respiration
rate, dark urine, headaches, vomiting and muscle
weakness or aches. Always ensure the presence of a
“buddy system” at work, where colleagues watch out
for each other and take immediate action and seek
help if any signs of heat stress appear, as follows:
1. Notify your supervisor immediately.
2. Move to a shaded and cooler area if possible.
3. Loosen or remove unnecessary clothing.
4. Provide cool water to sip or drink except in cases
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of heat stroke.
5. Lower the victim’s temperature with cool cloths or
a cool bath.
6. Apply ice or use a cooling fan when air temperature
is higher than 35°C and spray with cool water.
7. Seek medical emergency assistance if the victim
is confused or unable to stay alert or conscious.

Monitoring heat stress risk level

At QatarEnergy, we are currently using the Wet Bulb
Globe Temperature (WBGT) method for assessing
heat stress risk, aligning with the latest guidelines
from the Qatar Ministry of Labor. This method offers
more accurate monitoring, and details regarding its
implementation will be outlined in the forthcoming
revision of the heat stress standard. For more details
about WBGT and heat stress legislation in Qatar, click
here.

Training and awareness material

Online heat stress training is available through the
Heat Stress Program on the HSEQ Portal.

C O R P O R AT E H S E Q