The Dangers of Not Having a Heat Stress Management Program

Presented By:Marshall Green

Director of Marketing

We’ll Discuss…• Heat Illness• Warning signs• Those most at risk• Aggravating factors

• Why heat sickness “gets no respect.”• What are the dangers of not having a program in place.• How you can create an effective monitoring program.

Why Should We Care About Heat?• Heat can kill and injure• In India over 800 people died from Heat related

illness last week alone.• According to the CDC upwards of 700 people

die each year due to heat stroke.

Considered the #1 weather killer in the US• More than• Hurricanes• Floods• Cold• Tornados• Lightning

Heat-related illness

• Happens when the body is not able to cool itself and the body overheats.• Can cause injury, disability or death.• Is preventable.

Environmental Factors• Direct sun, heat and humidity• More direct sun, the greater the risk

• Limited air movement• Low or no wind

• Hot equipment • Engines add more heat

More Environmental Factors• Heat reflected from ground or objects• Watch out for reflected heat

• Physical exertion• What kind of work are you doing? • How hard are you working?

Know the Factors• Casual Factors:• Age• Weight• Physical fitness• Alcohol and drug use• Diet• Hypertension• Clothing• Prior heat injury

More Factors• Personal risk factors:• “I’m tough ~ I don’t need a water break”• “I’m not thirsty ~ I don’t need to drink” • “I’ll lose pay if I take a water break”• “I’ll be letting my team down” • “I’m new here ~ I need to prove myself”

Heat Illness (Hyperthermia)• Heat Rash• Sunburn• Heat Cramps• Heat Exhaustion• Heat Stroke

Heat Exhaustion• More serious than heat cramps• Caused by depletion of salt/water due to:• Intense prolonged exercise• Gradual dehydration

Heat Exhaustion Symptoms• Symptoms: • Painful heat cramps• Heavy sweating• Fast/weak pulse; shallow breathing• Dizziness, headache, nausea• Can progress to heat stroke

Heat Stroke• Body becomes unable to regulate itself &

sweating mechanism fails; core body temperature rises.• IMMEDIATE attention required... body

temperature can rise to >106° in 10-15 min.• CALL 911!

Heat Stroke Symptoms• Symptoms:• Very high body temperature• Red, hot skin• Rapid strong pulse• Throbbing headache• Confusion– altered mental state• Dizziness, nausea, vomiting• Unconsciousness

Most At Risk• Outdoor workers:• Roofers• Landscapers• Utility• Oil• Construction

Most At Risk• Indoor workers:• Production environments• Steel• Cabinet• Boiler Rooms• Foundry

Newest “at risk-group”• Athletes• Football

• Korey Stringer- Minnesota Vikings• Temps in low 90s with “stifling humidity”• Lost consciousness after drills ended• Paramedics couldn’t get blood pressure reading• Body temp: 108.8°• Kidneys began failing, then heart failed

• Track and Field• Soccer

Why doesn't heat dangers get attention? • Not as urgent/exciting as

tornadoes & hurricanes• Threat creeps up slowly

More reasons…• Public confusion abounds...• “Code yellow”, “code orange”, “code red” days: for

ozone, not necessarily dangerous heat!• Heat index: what does it mean?• Temperatures are in shade; sun adds 15+°

• Lack of education

What Are The Dangers?• Lawsuits• Heat sickness is preventable

• Lose your job• Heat sickness is preventable

• Death• Heat sickness is preventable

Heat Stress Monitoring and the Use of a WBGT Meter• Monitoring heat stress must take into

consideration:• Dry Bulb (DB) temperature• Wet Bulb (WB) temperature--(humidity)• Globe temperature (GT)--(radiant heat)• Level of work being performed at the hot location

Heat Index Chart

Guidelines• Begin readings at work station reporting

highest temperature or heat stress condition.• Allow meter to equalize before beginning.• Take readings close to the area where the

individual works.

Recording• Create a form to track your results.• Should contain spaces for recording:• WBGT reading for each location surveyed• Outside readings before and after readings• Heat Stress Information• Work/ Rest Cycles• Comments

Log Your Information• Simple Excel Sheet• Identify the trends• Define the protocols• 15 minutes off at x temp• OSHA has guidelines that you should follow

Monitors v Meters• Monitor is an instrument or device used for

observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of a process or quantity.• Meter is an instrument for measuring,

especially one that automatically measures and records the quantity of something when it is activated.

Types of Meters• WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) • Provides the most accurate determination of the heat

stress index based on the cumulative effect of air temperature, air movement, relative humidity, and radiant heat.

WBGT & Black Globe Temperature

• The temperature measured at a perfectly non-reflective black surface placed directly in the line of thermal radiation.

Heat Index

• Combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature—how hot it feels.

Questions?