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| Controlling Heat Stroke
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Heat stroke is a serious condition caused by the failure of the body's internal mechanism to
regulate its core temperature. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can result in death.
During heat stroke, sweating stops and the body is unable to eliminate excessive heat. The heat
stroke victim can experience: dry, pale skin (no sweating); hot, red skin (looks like sunburn);
mood changes (irritable, confused); seizures/fits; and collapsing/passing out. The following
actions may help reduce worker exposure to heat stroke.
Work environment
- Provide general ventilation throughout the work areas.
- Provide local exhaust ventilation in areas of high heat.
- Provide heat shielding to protect from radiant heating.
- Provide air conditioning or evaporative cooling in work areas.
- Repair and eliminate any steam leaks in the work environment.
- Understand that fans do not decrease the temperature; they only move the hot air.
- Provide recovery areas, such as air-conditioned rooms.
Work clothes
- Provide ice vests, with internal pockets to hold pre-frozen gel-type packs or ice (ice vest will normally last two to four hours).
- Provide localized cooling with specially designed, air-supplied hoods or helmets.
- Provide vest-style garments that employ a battery-powered pump, and a pouch that holds a bag filled with water and crushed ice.
- Take into consideration that wearing respirators and special suits to protect against toxic substances can increase the risks of heat-induced illnesses.
- Ensure exposed workers wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, where possible.
- Provide power tools, rolling carts and manual material handling equipment to reduce manual labor.
Work practices
- Ensure worker acclimatization by way of gradual exposures to heat — brief periods followed by longer periods of work in the hot environment. Government agencies recommend that new, hot-area workers be exposed to the heat for only 20 percent of their work time the first day, with a 20 percent increase in exposure each additional day.
- Consider starting the work earlier in the day when temperatures are generally cooler.
- Discourage workers from eating large meals, drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and smoking before working in hot environments.
- Ensure workers are provided the opportunity to drink a large amount of fluid.
- Provide regular work breaks in a cooler environment.
COPYRIGHT ©2002, ISO Services Properties, Inc.
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