HEAT STRESS

Vincent J. Giblin, General President

1293 Airport Road Phone: (304) 253-8674

Beaver, WV 25813 Fax: (304) 253-7758

E-mail: hazmat@iuoeiettc.org
This material was produced under grant number
46C5-HT16 from the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views
or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply endorsement by
the U.S. Government.
RECENT HEAT RELATED DEATHS

Korey Stringer 7-31-01

– 27 Yrs Old 6’3” 335 lbs

Eraste Autin 7-25-01

– 18 Yrs Old 6’2” 250 lbs

Preston Birdsong 8-13-00

– 18 Yrs Old 5’11” 190 lbs
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
 COMMON FACTORS
(Worker vs. Athlete)

Protective clothing
Focus on task at hand
Job security concerns
Desire to succeed
Desire to be accepted
Machismo
Peer pressure
Delayed thirst mechanism
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
 U.S. HEAT STROKE STATS

At least 300 deaths/year

7421 deaths from 1979-1998
1700 deaths in 1980 alone
Causes more deaths annually than
hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and
earthquakes combined
18 high school and college football player
deaths since 1995
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PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES
TO OVERHEATING

English Translation:
What happens when you get
too dang hot
 “TOO DANG HOT RESULTS”

Excessive sweat loss results in dehydration

The body loses its ability to cool

Increased blood flow to skin causes

decrease in organ function

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 HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES

HEAT CRAMPS

HEAT EXHAUSTION

HEAT STROKE

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 HEAT CRAMPS

 Caused by excessive loss of electrolytes

 Early warning sign of heat stress

 Painful cramps usually in legs or abdomen

 Stop activity, hydrate, rest in cool place

 Get medical attention if condition continues

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 HEAT EXHAUSTION

The body’s response to excessive water

and electrolyte loss

Stop activity and seek treatment

immediately

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 HEAT STROKE

The body’s cooling mechanism shuts down

50% that reach the heat stroke stage die

even with medical attention

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 LIVE OR DIE?

HEAT EXHAUSTION HEAT STROKE

 Skin is pale
 Skin is red
 Excessive sweating
 No sweating
 May faint but usually
conscious  Unconscious or
 Headache incoherent
 Nausea and vomiting
 Blurred vision
 Dizziness
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 TREATMENT

HEAT EXHAUSTION HEAT STROKE

 Call 911  Call 911

 Rest in cool place  Immediate,
 Loosen and remove aggressive, effective
unnecessary clothing cooling
 Shower or sponge  DO NOT give
with cool water anything by mouth
 Transport to hospital
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
 HUMAN RISK FACTORS

 Poor nutrition  Lack of acclimatization

 Poor physical  Over 40
condition  Illness (diabetes, asthma)
 High and low % body  Pregnancy
fat  Diet plans
 Previous heat illness

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
FACTORS
Air temperature
Direct sunlight
Radiant heat
Humidity
Little air movement

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 JOB RISK FACTORS

Work intensity
Work duration
Location (roof, road, enclosure)
Clothing (weight, impermeability)
Respiratory protection

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 WORKER RESPONSIBILITY

Follow instructions of IH and health care

professionals
Be watchful for symptoms (self and others)
Properly hydrate (before, during, after)
Get adequate rest
Avoid alcohol, unnecessary medication,
and caffeine

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 MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBILITY
 Ensure that  Know workers
environmental medical history
conditions are  Assure workers are
monitored properly trained
 Adjust work practices  Conduct pre and post
as necessary job safety meetings
 Assure that affected
 Be watchful for signs
workers receive
of overexposure treatment

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 MONITORING

 Environmental monitoring
– WBGT (heat index= temp+humidity+radiant)
used for guidance in establishing work/rest ratio
 Personnel monitoring
– Oral thermometer
– Ear probe
– R*&%$! Thermometer
– Core Temp
– Pulse rate
– Blood pressure
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
 COOLING WEAR

Traditional ice vests

Chem-pack vests, headbands, & bandanas
Active cooling garment (water circulating)
SAR and PAPR with active cooling
systems
New material development (breathable,
lighter weight, waterproof)

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

COLD STRESS
Hypothermia

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 Cold Stress
(Hypothermia)
• Acute problem resulting from prolonged
cold exposure and heat loss
• “Hypo” (too little) “Thermia” (heat)
• 750 deaths/year in USA
• Generally doesn’t present the same level
of danger as heat stress
– Does not occur as quickly
– Workers will simply come in out of the cold

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 MAJOR CAUSES
• Cold Temperatures
– 41 degrees F is cold enough with other contributing
factors

• Improper clothing and equipment

• Wetness
– Sweating, contact with water
– Water conducts heat away from the body 25 Xs faster
than air

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 Contributing Factors
• Fatigue

• Dehydration

• Hunger

• Alcohol intake

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 Cold Stress Hazards
• SYSTEMIC • LOCALIZED
– Hypothermia – Frostnip
– Frostbite
– Trench Foot

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 Signs and Symptoms
• Hypothermia
– Body temp <95 degrees F
– Euphoria
– Slow weak pulse
– Slurred speech
– Shivering
– Unconsciousness

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 Signs and Symptoms
• Frostnip/Frostbite • Trench Foot
– Itching/burning/numb – Severe pain/itch/tingle
– Skin color change – Swelling
• White – Blisters
• Grayish yellow
• Reddish violet
• Black

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 First Aid
• Hypothermia
– Move to warm area
– Remove wet clothing
– Modest external
warming
• Blankets/heat packs
– Drink warm sweet
fluids (non-caffeinated)
– Transport to hospital
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
• Frostnip/Frostbite
– Move to warm area
– External warming
• Warm water
– Drink warm sweet
fluids (non-caffeinated)
– Treat as burn (do not
rub)
– Transport to hospital
Body Response Mechanisms
• Vasoconstriction
– Blood vessel constriction
– Reduces heat loss/makes skin better insulator
• Shivering
– Increases body temp as vasoconstriction fails

• **NEITHER ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS

SWEATING AND ACCLIMATION ARE
FOR HEAT STRESS
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
 Behavior Is The Key!
• Behavior is the primary protection factor
for cold stress prevention
– Increase clothing insulation
– Increase activity
– Seek warm location
– Get the H$!! out of there

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 Cold Stress Solutions
• Engineering Controls- Warming shelters, spot
heating (i.e. hand warmers), minimize air
movement (shielding)
• Work Practices- fluid replacement, change wet
clothes immediately, buddy system
• Administration Controls-work/rest cycles,
warm period work, allow for productivity
reductions
• PPE

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 Clothing Tips
• Dress in Layers
– Add or remove for comfort
– Allows free movement and dexterity
• Layer closest to skin should be “water
vapor permeable”
– Wicks away moisture, allows evaporation,
prevents accumulation

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 This material was produced under grant
number 46C5-HT16 from the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor. It does not
necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does
mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program

 END
•This publication was made possible by
grant numbers 5 U45 ES06182-13 AND
5 U45 ES09763-13 from the National
Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences (NIEHS), NIH. Its contents are
solely the responsibility of the authors
and do not necessarily represent the
official views of the NIEHS, NIH.

Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program