After a long, cold winter, the warmer temperatures of summer may seem like the best thing in the world. But for the thousands of people working in outdoor or high -temperature environments, the summer weather is just another issue to deal with.
Any time heat is a factor in a working environment, heat stress in the workplace is possible but preventable, and employees should be monitored and educated about the symptoms and treatment of the situations that can occur.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
"Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat."
Heat stress can be exhibited in three major way:; heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat syncope. The most dangerous is heat stroke, where the body's temperature can rise rapidly. Symptoms of heat stoke include chills, high body temperature, and hot, dry skin. Seek medical attention as soon as possible should someone exhibit these symptoms, as heat stroke can be fatal.
