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Employees in engineering, oil, gas, and mining industries in the Middle East face a significant issue of occupational-related heat stress exposure. Extreme temperatures that often exceed 40 degrees Celsius increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries among employees.
This article offers the reader a holistic overview of a heat stress management strategy which may be implemented to reduce the risks associated with exposure in the workplace.
Introduction
Heat stress happens when the body fails to regulate its internal temperature, which causes adverse symptoms due to an increased core temperature. This condition can worsen other health problems and increase the likelihood of accidents in the workplace.
Professionals in engineering, oil and gas, and mining industries are prone to heat stress due to their work environment. They are frequently engaged in outdoor activities for extended periods, making it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), heat stress is a significant hazard for workers in the construction industry. Between 2015 and 2019, heat-related illnesses caused 73 construction worker fatalities and 11,500 serious injuries that required days away from work1. Workers in the manufacturing industry, particularly those working in foundries, bakeries, and food processing plants, are also at risk of heat stress. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found workers in the food processing industry with a higher risk of heat-related illnesses compared with their counterparts in manufacturing sectors2.
To mitigate the risks associated with heat stress exposure, employers should implement effective management strategies. This may include the provision of personal protective equipment, engineering controls such as air conditioning and ventilation, and scheduling work to avoid the hottest times of the day. All of the elements should be accompanied by regular training of employees.
By implementing initiative-taking steps to manage heat stress exposure, employers are creating a safer and more productive work environment for employees. Employers must prioritise the health and safety of their employees in challenging and dangerous work environments.
Understanding heat stress
Occupational-related heat stress is a significant occupational hygiene risk factor and refers to employee exposure to elevated temperature levels and heat sources in the workplace. This results in physiological strain and discomfort, and an increased risk for the development of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can occur in a variety of work environments, including outdoor settings with high temperatures and humidity, and indoor environments with heat-generating machinery and equipment. In addition to general chemical occupational hygiene risk factors, heat stress is also a physical risk factor that requires consideration during confined space entry.
“occupational-related heat stress is a significant occupational hygiene risk factor”
Elevated temperatures and heat sources present employees with occupational-related heat stress exposure risk, with the following aspects increasing the likelihood of the development of heat-related illnesses:
- Elevated temperatures and humidity – working in environments with hot temperatures and humidity can increase the risk of heat stress.
- Intense physical work activity – participating in physically demanding work in a hot environment can result in heightened body heat production and an increased likelihood of experiencing heat stress.
- Personal factors – certain personal factors can increase an individual’s susceptibility to heat stress, including age, weight, and overall health status.
- Inadequate hydration – inadequate fluid intake can lead to dehydration and an increased risk of heat stress.
- Acclimatisation – unacclimatised employees are at risk of heat stress.
- Protective clothing – protective clothing increases the heat stress risk as a result of trapped body heat and reduces evaporative cooling.
- Work environment – working in enclosed spaces or near heat-generating equipment can increase the risk of heat stress.
To safeguard employees from heat stress exposure, employers must recognise and counteract the underlying risk factors. A successful heat stress management plan typically comprises of a range of strategies for controlling and minimising exposure, encompassing all aspects of the hierarchy of controls. These include engineering controls such as improved ventilation and radiant heat shielding, administrative controls like scheduling rest breaks and providing hydration, and personal protective equipment.
Occupational-related heat stress exposure can lead to a range of symptoms, which may vary in severity depending on the duration and intensity of exposure. The most common symptoms of heat stress include:
- Dehydration – a lack of fluid intake can lead to dehydration, which may manifest as dry mouth, thirst, dark urine, and decreased urination.
- Fatigue – heat stress can cause exhaustion and fatigue, making concentrating and performing physical tasks difficult.
- Cramps – heat stress can cause muscle cramps, which may be painful and limit physical activity.
- Heat rash – prolonged exposure to heat can cause a skin rash, which may be itchy and uncomfortable.
- Heat exhaustion – this is a more severe form of heat stress, which may cause profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, and a rapid heartbeat.
- Heatstroke – this is the most severe form of heat stress, which can cause confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness, and organ failure. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
“both employers and employees must receive training in identifying the early signs of heat stress”
The following health effects are associated with long-term employee exposure:
- Chronic dehydration
- Cardiovascular disease
- Kidney disease
- Respiratory problems
- Skin cancer
Both employers and employees must receive training in identifying the early signs of heat stress and the necessary procedures for treating employees who suffer from heatstroke. Treatment options may include administering first aid, seeking prompt medical attention, resting in a cool and shaded area, drinking fluids, and removing excess clothing.
Providing PPE
The following personal protective equipment options are available to reduce employee heat stress exposure risk:
Cooling vests
Cooling vests are personal protective equipment designed to help regulate the body’s temperature and reduce the risk of occupational-related heat stress exposure. The cooling elements are chilled or frozen before incorporation into the vests which are worn underneath the existing protective clothing.
During heat exposure, the body causes blood vessels in the skin to dilate, allowing more blood to flow to the surface of the skin and dissipate heat. Cooling vests can enhance this process by cooling the blood before it circulates through the body.
In addition to reducing the risk of heat stress, cooling vests can also improve worker productivity and comfort. By regulating body temperature, employees may be able to perform physical tasks more efficiently and with greater comfort.
Heat-resistant clothing
Specialised materials are used to make these garments that can withstand elevated temperatures and are designed to reflect or absorb radiant heat.
Heat-resistant clothing can protect employees in a range of industries, including foundries, metalworking, welding, and glass manufacturing. In these industries, employees are often exposed to elevated temperatures, molten metal, and radiant heat sources, which can increase the risk of heat stress and burn injuries.
Designers created heat-resistant clothing to protect employees from heat and flames, which reduces the associated risks by limiting the heat that reaches the skin and, as a result, also the heat transferred to the body. Heat-resistant clothing also acts as a barrier between the worker and the heat source and reduces the energy in the form of heat which is transferred to the body. This can help to lower the risk of burns and heat stress and improve worker comfort and productivity.
Overall, heat-resistant clothing can be an effective tool in protecting employees from occupational-related heat stress exposure but should be used in combination with other heat stress management strategies to ensure worker safety and comfort.
Heat-resistant gloves
Heat-resistant gloves are typically made from specialised materials that can withstand elevated temperatures and provide a barrier between the skin and the heat source.
By providing a barrier between the worker’s hands and the heat source, heat-resistant gloves can reduce the amount of heat transferred to the body, which in turn lowers the risk of burns and heat stress and also improves worker comfort and productivity.
Heat-resistant gloves can protect employees in a range of industries, including foundries, metalworking, welding, and glass manufacturing. In these industries, employees are often exposed to elevated temperatures, molten metal, and radiant heat sources, which can increase the risk of heat stress and burn injuries.
Eye and face protection
Eye and face protection, such as safety glasses and face shields, protect employees from heat-related eye injuries, such as flash burns and heat from radiant sources (such as molten material). Eye and face protection provides protection against ocular exposure to excessive levels of radiant heat which is prevalent in industries such as welding and foundry work. Facial protection against radiant heat reduces the energy absorbed by the eyes and plays an important role in the prevention of ocular cataract development.
Respirators
Respirators protect employees against the development of occupational-related heat stress diseases by reducing their exposure to heat and other airborne contaminants, such as dust and fumes, which can exacerbate heat stress. Respirators are designed to cover the nose and mouth and filter out harmful particles in the air. The following two types of respirators may be encountered:
- Air-purifying respirators which function by filtering out particles from the air before it is breathed in. These respirators are typically used in industries where employees are exposed to airborne contaminants, such as welding or sandblasting. Air-purifying respirators may be associated with uncomfortable breathing conditions which are aggravated by elevated temperatures). By removing contaminants from the air, employees are less likely to experience respiratory discomfort or other heat stress symptoms.
- Supplied-air respirators which provide constant clean air to the worker, either from an external source or through a self-contained breathing apparatus. These respirators are typically used in industries where employees are exposed to prominent levels of heat or toxic gases, such as mining or firefighting. By providing a source of cool, clean air, supplied-air respirators can help to reduce the risk of heat stress and other heat-related illnesses.
It is important to note that respirators can also contribute to heat stress by increasing the worker’s metabolic rate and reducing the ability to dissipate heat through sweating. Employers should ensure that employees are trained in the correct use of respirators, that they are fitted and maintained correctly, and that employees issued with respiratory protective equipment are included in the organisational medical surveillance programme.
“when employees wear heat-resistant clothing, they cannot sweat as effectively, or dissipate heat as efficiently”
Limitations of PPE
While personal protective equipment (PPE) is effective in reducing risks associated with heat stress exposure, its limitations should also be considered and addressed as part of an effective heat stress management programme. The following limitations and risks are associated with the provision of personal protective equipment:
Movement restriction
Movement restriction is one of the most prominent effects reported among employees issued with cooling vests, as these vests are likely to be bulky and reduce employee mobility. This can be challenging for employees who physically demanding tasks or operate heavy machinery.
Increased heat retention
Heat-resistant clothing and gloves can increase the risk of heat stress. This is because they reduce the body’s ability to cool down through sweat evaporation. When employees wear heat-resistant clothing, they cannot sweat as effectively, which means that their bodies can’t dissipate heat as efficiently. To prevent this, employees should take regular breaks and have access to water.
Reduced visibility
Employees may experience fogging and sweating on their eye protection, reducing visibility, and causing discomfort, factors which are aggravated by respiratory protective equipment should it be used in conjunction with eye protection. Professionally designed eye and face protection, including anti-fog coatings and ventilation systems, can improve worker comfort and reduce the risk of heat stress caused by impaired vision.
Increased fatigue
Selected protective devices may be uncomfortable and increase employees’ fatigue levels, particularly during prolonged periods of use.
“considering the limitations with PPE, employers must select appropriate protective devices for the specific work environment”
Interference with communication
Verbal inter-employee communication is less effective among employees issued with respiratory protective devices, resulting in increased employee effort to communicate effectively with one another.
Considering the above limitations associated with personal protective equipment, employers must select appropriate protective devices for the specific job tasks and work environment, ensure that it fits properly and is comfortable for employees to wear, and provide adequate training on how to use and equipment care. It’s also important to consider other heat stress management measures, such as engineering controls and scheduling work, to avoid the hottest times of the day.
Conclusion
Employers have various viable options for personal protective equipment, but an effective heat stress management plan must encompass all the elements outlined in the hierarchy of controls, with personal protective equipment being complementary to engineering and administrative control measures. Employers can achieve optimal worker safety and minimise the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries by implementing a combination of strategies. To sum up, it’s crucial to use a comprehensive approach to heat stress management.
References
- www.osha.gov/
- www.cdc.gov/niosh/
