Protecting workers from heat stress

Pryme Australia Pty Ltd
Wednesday, 31 July, 2013


Heat stress occurs when the body cannot sufficiently cool itself. The body naturally reacts to heat by increasing blood flow to the skin’s surface and sweating. Sweat evaporation promotes cooling and an increase in blood flow means heat is carried to the surface of the body and released.

Pryme Australia Managing Director Terry Houlihan said workers operating in hot and humid conditions could be at risk of heat stress and needed to be well aware of the associated symptoms.

“Workers operating in hot and humid conditions without appropriate clothing can be susceptible to heat stress because sweat evaporation is restricted, impairing the body’s cooling mechanism and contributing to a rise in the body’s core temperature and heart rate. 

“Symptoms can range from weakness, dizziness and fainting to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

Houlihan said people working in places with poor ventilation and higher temperatures needed to be educated on how to recognise heat stress symptoms and minimise the risks associated with such symptoms.

“Occupations that are more at risk include miners, factory workers, firefighters, farmers and construction workers,” he said.

“Workers operating in these industries need to wear clothing made from materials that allow the body to breathe.  Chill-Its Evaporative Cooling Vest features activated polymer-embedded fabric on the inside and a water-repellent liner. The vest remains hydrated for up to four hours and provides effective cooling relief for workers. Chill-Its Evaporative Cooling Towel is also another option as it features advanced PVA material that activates in plain water to remain significantly cooler than ambient air temperature and is super-absorbent.

“Implementing a comprehensive heat stress action plan that includes appropriate breaks, a healthy diet, regular fluid consumption and the use of protective clothing is vital in ensuring employees remain comfortable and productive at work.

“It could be something as simple as scheduling a more strenuous job to a cooler part of the day or assigning more workers to one job to reduce the physical demand on each worker. Heat stress is a serious issue that can be life threatening so employers need to do their very best to ensure workers are protected. ”

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