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June, 2009
Avoiding the Heat Melt Down
Hazard
Extreme heat can sometimes make daily job tasks excruciating and often times dangerous. When workers are exposed to extreme temperatures they are at risk for heat stress. This occurs when a workers average body temperature of 37 degrees increases by as little as three degrees. When a workers internal body temperature reaches 40 degrees he or she is at risk for internal organ failure which can be fatal.
The heat a worker is exposed to is a combination of air temperature and humidity, radiant heat from the sun, machine or process, clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) and any heat generated by the worker.
Some of the hottest conditions in the mining and aggregate industry are pits, quarries and surface mines in the late spring, summer and the early fall since ground and buildings can absorb heat increasing temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees. Underground mines are known to be hot all year round and underground deep mine rock temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius with 100% humidity.
The health effects of heat stress can range from mild to severe and include sunburns, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Prevention
There are many things that companies and workers can do to ensure health and safety on hot days. Companies should have heat stress plans in place to help workers keep a balance between rest and work throughout the day and any work which is more physically demanding should be scheduled during cooler parts of the day and provide cool fresh water to exposed workers.
Workers should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress and start a buddy system with co-workers. It is easier for a worker to spot the signs in others then it is for themselves. Some things workers should watch out for are:
- Heavy sweating
- Cool moist skin
- Weak pulse
- Feeling tired, weak, clumsy, confused, thirsty
- Rapid breathing
- Blurred vision
- Acting strangely
If any of these signs are visible, the victim should be immediately moved away from the heat, any excessive clothing must be loosened or removed, water must be given and medical aid must immediately be contacted.
Resources
For More Information
Two products offered from MASHA to help companies understand and handle heat stress are:
- Beat the Heat Pocket Guide to Heat Stress and Strain
- Beat the Heat Safety Meeting CD
For more information or resources, please contact your MASHA
field consultant.
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