How To Cope-Up with the Dangerous Heat Stress

During summer days heat stress, which includes heat cramps, stroke and exhaustion are very lethal to mankind.

It is defined as dehydration and tiredness caused by excessive heat stress situations.

The personnel’s who work in the construction industry need extra care and precautions to take care of themselves.

If proper safety precautions are not taken then in severe cases it can lead to fatality.

There are Five Means of Heat Removal from the Body during Heat Stress

Convection:

It is the process of exchanging body heat with the surrounding air that comes in contact with the skin

Radiation:

The transfer of heat to the body from air or a hot source like the sun.

Evaporation:

At very high temperature skin cools the body through sweating hence this is the process of evaporation.

Conduction:

It is the process of direct transfer of heat when it comes in contact with a warm object.

Dehydration:

It is the process of removal of water from the body due to excess sweat.

There are Mainly Three Disorders Due to Heat Stress:

1. The first one is Heat Cramps
2. Second one is Heat Exhaustion
3. Third one is Heat Stroke

Heat Cramps

• Due to the discharge of fluid from the body and depletion of salts there is a sweat loss which results in muscular pain and spasm but you can replace these losses with water alone.
• It happens when the body is in the state of losing too much salt and the muscle becomes cramped.
• This is an early sign of heat stroke
• Stop all the activity and hydrate the victim and give him rest in a cool shaded area.

Symptoms

Fatigue and exhaustion, Moist and cool skin, Painful muscles contraction in arms and legs.

Treatment

• Move them to a cool shaded area and sprinkle cool water on his body and switch on the cooling fan near him.
• The patient needs to be provided with drinks which contain electrolytes, minerals and vitamins.
• Lose the clothing of the victim’s body in order to stretch his muscle freely.

Heat Exhaustion

This is a case of serious medical emergency which results from prolonged activity consuming inadequate salt in hot environment

• The victim will feel tired, dizzy, nausea, and have a headache.
• Move the victim for medical treatment.

Symptoms

Dehydration, fever, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, shallow breathing   and moist skin, headache, rapid pulse, thirst normal or slightly elevated body temperature.

Treatment

• Treat the condition using the technique applicable in heat cramps.
• But if there is persistent headache, vomiting and confusion call for help or a medical emergency
• Move the patient to a cool shaded area with a good environment.
• Elevate patient’s feet.
• The patient needs to be provided with adequate fluid and salt replacement (1-2 liters over 2-4 hours).
• Cooling fans with ice packs need to be provided in the area.
• Administration of fluid intravenously sometimes is necessary.

Heat Stroke

• This is life-threatening and an emergency resulting from failure of the thermoregulatory mechanism.
• The skin becomes hot and dry and the victim feels high temperature hence making him confused.
• It can kill if a proper medical emergency is not provided on time.
• The early signs and symptoms of heat stroke are confusion, irrational behavior, loss of consciousness, convulsions, lack of sweating, hot and dry skin, and abnormally high body temperature
• It can lead to fatality if the body temperature gets too high.
• In this scenario the body’s cooling system shuts down.

Symptoms 

Unconsciousness, hot or dry skin, hypotension, high fever, absence of sweating, impaired consciousness, sweating, rapid pulse, high body temperature

Treatment

• Lose all the clothing of the patient by removing it and making him feel good.
• Sprinkle small amounts of water to cool the core temperature of the body.
• Wrapping the patient in cool and wet sheets is the best method to cool the body during a heat emergency.
• Administer intravenously with adequate fluid.
• Antipyretic (aspirin, Panadol) have no effect in environmentally induced hyperthermia and are contraindicated.
• Move the person to a cool shaded area and let the body temperature cool.

Engineering Control of Heat stress

• Planning during the construction and setting up of a workplace if a hot environment is anticipated.
• Control heat at source through insulation and reflective barriers
• Reduce temperature and humidity through ventilation
• Reduce physical exertion through mechanical assistance

Administrative Controls of Heat stress

• Implement a schedule for heat acclimatization
• Stop all works at 49^o C heat index, especially from 11:30am to 3pm during restriction hours from the month of June to September
• Increase and follow the frequency and duration of rest breaks.
• Shift all the jobs to cooler parts of the day in hot weather.
• Provide ice cooled drinking water near the work location and encourage the workforce to drink even if they are not feeling thirsty.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used during Heat stress

• Wear insulated or cool clothing during working hours
  • The person needs to wear clothing which allows free movement of air.
  • Wear reflective clothing near heat sources
  • The Workforce need to wear eye protection which has the quality to filter bright light especially when the work involves hot objects.
  • Use sunscreen and sunblock while working outdoors
  • Wear a hard hat and light clothing to protect skin when working under the sun

General Rules and Zero Tolerance Policy During Heat Stress on Construction Site

Adopt a zero-tolerance policy during the heat stress scenario and if there is any deviation on the below-mentioned elements take strict action.

• Cool drinking water and drinking stations need to be provided in all areas to cope with the hot and humid conditions.
• Arrange an adequate rest shelter with fans in the areas to beat the heat.
• Follow all work rest schedule as per the Heat stress index flag system.
• Approved First aid and adequate numbers of first aid boxes need to be provided in the areas at all times.
• The personnel working in the area need to wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing.
• Eat smaller meals and lighter meals before work during the days in which there is the potential for high heat stress.
•  Avoid caffeinated beverages, alcohol and huge intake of sugary diets.
•  Go for health checkups regularly to avoid any complications.
• Paper cups need to be provided readily in all the areas
• Oral hydration Salt (ORS) or fluids with similar combinations need to provide in all the areas during the heat stress days.
• Calibrated Hygrometer needs to be provided to measure heat index and the Humidity index chart needs to be updated accordingly and relevant posters along with the Heat stress flag need to be provided for awareness.

Let’s Continue

• The Supervisor needs to maintain a log for workers for scheduled rest and breaks during high heat stress.
• The employees need to be provided with proper training on heat stress symptoms and controls and records need to be maintained.
• There must be some dedicated crew for frequent water delivery and a properly maintained vehicle needs to be provided for the same.
• A flag pole with five colors of flags – Green, Yellow, Orange, Red and Black needs to be provided in the areas.
• The workforce needs to wear additional hats and approved head garments as a shade to the sun to avoid the workforce from heat stress situations.
• The portable drinking water needs to be sealed with tape and with the current date labelled.
• The pace of the work needs to be slowed in order to decrease the workload of the workforce.
• If anyone has a symptom of heat-related illness they need to report it accordingly.
• No work shall be allowed to proceed in the area wherever the above-mentioned elements are not implemented.
• Wear light-colored, loose clothing (Unless working around equipment with moving parts) if you are working areas with a high heat index.
• Allow time for employees to adjust to hot jobs when possible. It often takes two to three weeks for an employee to become acclimated to the hot environment.
• Adjust the work schedule if possible, during heat stress days.
• Assign heavier work on cooler days or during the cooler part of days.
• Drink a cool drink full of nutrients.

The Bottom Line

The effect of heat stress is very dangerous so one needs to be very careful while working in an environment which is exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Standard precautions need to be taken in order to minimize the heat stress, cramps, exhaustion effect on the body by taking proper rest and breaks and by drinking ice-cooled water.

If there is no complication, light meals, fruits and veggies, minimize the time in direct sunlight and hot environment.

As one needs to make himself like an athletic and to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of heat disorders and finally eat a healthy diet.