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Thermal Stressors
Published in W. David Yates, Safety Professional’s Reference and Study Guide, 2020
Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid and salts through excessive sweating. Workers suffering from heat exhaustion still sweat but experience extreme fatigue or loss of consciousness. If heat exhaustion is not treated, the illness may advance to heat stroke. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, high pulse rate, profuse sweating, low blood pressure, pale face, clammy skin, collapse, nausea and vomiting, headaches, and slightly increased body temperature. The major causes of heat exhaustion are dehydration, low level of acclimation, and low level of physical fitness. To prevent heat exhaustion, an employee should drink water or other fluids (sports drinks) frequently, take normal salt in their diets, take rest breaks to a cool area, and acclimate themselves to the environment. The treatment for heat exhaustion is to have the affected person lie down flat on their back in a cool environment, drink water, cool their skin with a cool mist or wet cloth, and loosen their clothing (especially at the neck, waist, and feet or ankles). Many medical experts conclude that once a person has experienced heat exhaustion, they are more susceptible to a second experience with heat exhaustion. Therefore, it would be helpful to know which persons are more susceptible before beginning a project in a heat environment.
Personal Protective Equipment, First Aid, and Thermal Hazards
Published in Frank R. Spellman, Kathern Welsh, Safe Work Practices for Wastewater Treatment Plants, 2018
Frank R. Spellman, Kathern Welsh
Heat exhaustion is a type of heat stress that occurs because of water and/or salt depletion. Employees working in the heat should have such fluids readily available and drink them frequently. Electrolyte imbalance is a problem with heat exhaustion and heat cramps. When people sweat in response to exertion and environmental heat, they lose more than just water. They also lose salt and electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals that are needed for the body to maintain the proper metabolism and for cells to produce energy. A loss of electrolytes causes these functions to break down. For this reason, it is important to use commercially produced drinks that contain water, salt, sugar, potassium, or electrolytes to replace those lost through sweating. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are headache, nausea, vertigo, weakness, thirst, and giddiness. Fortunately, this condition responds readily to prompt treatment. Heat exhaustion should not be taken lightly, however, for several reasons. One of the principal reasons should be apparent to safety engineers: The fainting associated with heat exhaustion can be dangerous because the victim may be operating machinery or controlling an operation that should not be left unattended. A victim of heat exhaustion should be moved to a cool but not cold environment and allowed to rest lying down. Fluids should be taken slowly but steadily by mouth until the urine volume indicates that the body’s fluid level is once again in balance.
Thermal Stressors
Published in W. David Yates, Safety Professional’s, 2015
Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid and salts through excessive sweating. Workers suffering from heat exhaustion still sweat but experience extreme fatigue or loss of consciousness. If heat exhaustion is not treated, the illness may advance to heat stroke. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, high pulse rate, profuse sweating, low blood pressure, pale face, clammy skin, collapse, nausea and vomiting, headaches, and slightly increased body temperature. The major cause of heat exhaustion is dehydration, low level of acclimation, and low level of physical fitness. To prevent heat exhaustion, an employee should drink water or other fluids (sports drinks) frequently, take normal salt in their diets, take rest breaks to a cool area, and acclimate themselves to the environment. The treatment for heat exhaustion is to have the affected person lie down flat on their back in a cool environment, drink water, cool their skin with a cool mist or wet cloth, and loosen their clothing (especially at the neck, waist, and feet or ankles). Many medical experts conclude that once a person has experienced heat exhaustion, they are more susceptible to a second experience with heat exhaustion. Therefore, it would be helpful to know which persons are more susceptible before beginning a project in a heat environment.
Integrating physiological monitoring systems in military aviation: a brief narrative review of its importance, opportunities, and risks
Published in Ergonomics, 2023
David M. Shaw, John W. Harrell
Heat stress is more likely than cold stress in military aviation due to the heat generated by the aircraft and the requirement to wear multiple layers of clothing and equipment. Heat stress causes discomfort, fatigue, and impairs mood (Simmons et al. 2008). An increase in core temperature can also impair cognition (Qian et al. 2014; Simmons et al. 2008). Heat stress may progress to cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke if not managed appropriately (Epstein, Druyan, and Heled 2012). Increased sweating aims to dissipate heat through evaporative cooling; however, when sweat is trapped under layers of clothing and protective equipment, evaporative cooling is prevented and can cause discomfort. Sweat loss can lead to hypohydration, which may impair cognition when fluid losses exceed 1% of body weight (Lieberman 2007). Both heat and hypohydration also reduce G-tolerance (Nunneley and Stribley 1979). As the magnitude of hypohydration increases, the body’s ability to dissipate metabolic heat to the environment is reduced, thereby limiting heat tolerance (Sawka, Cheuvront, and Kenefick 2015). Heat stress increases ventilation (Qian et al. 2014; Worley et al. 2021) and HR (Bruce-Low, Cotterrell, and Jones 2006; Yamamoto et al. 2007); whereas, HRV (Bruce-Low, Cotterrell, and Jones 2006; Yamamoto et al. 2007) and CBF (Brothers et al. 2009; Nelson et al. 2011) are reduced. Hypohydration can also exacerbate the physiological effects of heat (Sawka, Cheuvront, and Kenefick 2015).
Assessment of occupational exposure to heat stress and solar ultraviolet radiation among groundskeepers in an eastern North Carolina university setting
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2018
Nicole Beck, Jo Anne G. Balanay, Terri Johnson
Excessive heat exposure can cause heat-related illnesses (HRI), ranging from minor (e.g., heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion) to life-threatening (e.g., heat stroke).[4] Heat stress is associated with a worker's reduced reaction time, reduced ability to focus and increased error rate, hence resulting in increased cognitive performance impairment and risk of occupational injury.[5-7] Heat stress is also linked with kidney disorder and psychological distress.[8,9] Workers are at an increased risk for HRI because their exposure and response to heat is controlled by job and employer requirements.[10] Nearly 360 occupational heat-related deaths between 2000 and 2010 were identified in the U.S.[11] Approximately 8,300 occupational HRI emergency department (ED) visits and 1,000 inpatient hospitalizations were recorded in the southeastern U.S. from 2007–2011.[12] In NC, HRI symptoms were found to be prevalent among outdoor workers[13,14] and work-related HRI ED visits were more common than non-occupational causes in 19- to 45-year-olds.[15] Specifically, a few OSHA and NIOSH fatality cases due to heat stress involving landscaping workers have been identified, and involved the issuance of OSHA citations to the employer for failure to protect employees from hazards associated with heat stress and to report a workplace fatality.[16-19]
Mitigation of heat stress risks through building energy efficiency upgrade: a case study of Melbourne, Australia
Published in Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, 2018
Morshed Alam, Pathmanathan Rajeev, Jay Sanjayan, Patrick X. W. Zou, John Wilson
Heatwaves pose a significant risk to human health all over the world. Heat-related illness can range from mild conditions, such as rash or cramps, through to heat exhaustion, and finally to potentially fatal conditions such as heat stroke. Therefore, in Europe and Australia, heatwaves recently received significant attention due to the gravity of its impact on public health (Steffen, Hughes, and Perkins 2014). Europe experienced one of the most severe heat waves in the history during June and August 2003. Average monthly temperatures across Europe were significantly higher than usual, especially in June and August the average temperature over central Europe were 4.2 and 3.8 °C hotter than the long-term (1958–2002) average, respectively (Black et al. 2004). More than 70,000 additional deaths occurred in Europe during summer 2003 (Robine et al. 2008). In 2010, more intense heatwave scorched enormous area of eastern Europe and Russia which claimed 56,000 lives (Steffen, Hughes, and Perkins 2014).