August 15, 2023

Tips for avoiding heat-related illnesses and first-aid measures

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you may not be surprised to find that this summer is shaping up to be one of our hottest. Many cities in Texas are currently experiencing a streak of 100-degree days. These high temperatures also mean there’s an increased risk for employees working outdoors and in hot indoor environments.

Heat-related illnesses range in severity, but can also escalate quickly when they’re not addressed and treated. Each year, heat exposure leads to thousands of work-related injuries and dozens of fatalities. These incidents can be avoided by understanding prevention methods, early symptom recognition and basic first-aid procedures. See how best to prepare and ensure you and your employees know what to do to stay safe in the summer heat.

What is heat illness?

Heat-related illnesses occur when the body becomes overheated because it is not able to balance the heat generated by physical work and external sources like environmental conditions. There are six main types of heat-related illnesses that can affect each person differently and progress quickly.

1. Heat rash happens when the skin becomes irritated because sweat is not evaporating. The rash looks like clusters of red bumps and often occurs on the neck or upper chest.
2. Heat cramps occur when sweating causes fluid and electrolyte loss in the body. People who sweat a lot during hard activities are more likely to experience heat cramps.
3. Heat syncope can happen after standing for extended periods of time or standing up suddenly from a seated position, and can cause fainting, dizziness or light-headedness. Lack of acclimatization and dehydration can be contributing factors.
4. Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) occurs when heat stress combines with prolonged physical exertion causing muscle breakdown. Symptoms include muscle cramps or pain, dark urine or weakness. If left untreated, it can result in irregular heart rhythms, seizures or kidney damage.
5. Heat exhaustion can happen after heavy sweating causes a loss of water and salt. People with heat exhaustion normally experience a headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, a faster heartbeat and cool or clammy skin.
6. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, and it occurs when the body cannot regulate its temperature. When a person experiences a heat stroke, they can exhibit signs of confusion, lose consciousness and even experience seizures. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated quickly.

How can employers help prevent heat-related illnesses?

As an employer, you can help keep your employees safe in the heat by providing engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) and a heat illness prevention program.

Engineering controls deliver the most effective protection against heat illnesses by eliminating the hazard at its source. Examples of engineering controls include:

• Providing air conditioning
• Increasing ventilation
• Installing local exhaust ventilation, such as exhaust hoods in laundry rooms and other hot workplaces
• Redirecting heat with reflective shields
• Insulating hot surfaces, such as furnace walls

Administrative controls are the second-most effective way to control heat illnesses. They help reduce exposure to hazards by changing the way employees do their work. Examples of administrative controls include:

• Allowing employees to acclimatize, or gradually get used to working in hot conditions
• Reducing an employee's heat exposure
• Scheduling strenuous activities for the cooler parts of the day
• Implementing a buddy system so employees can monitor each other for symptoms and administer first aid if necessary
• Enforcing water and rest breaks

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the least-effective control against workplace hazards and should always be your last line of defense. While PPE could give the user a false sense of security, it does also have its benefits. The following are examples of PPE that can reduce heat exposure:

• Broad-brimmed hats with neck flaps
• Light-colored, breathable clothing
• Water-cooled garments, air-cooled garments or cooling vests
• Thermally conditioned clothing, such as a garment with a self-contained air conditioner in a backpack
• Wetted over-garments or a plastic jacket with pockets filled with ice

Heat illness prevention programs help protect your employees from heat illnesses by identifying hazards, controls and expectations. Program topics should include:

• The hazards of heat stress
• Predisposing factors, danger signs and symptoms of heat illnesses
• Prevention strategies the company has implemented to protect employees
• Expectations for employees to avoid heat illnesses
• What to do in the event of an emergency

How can employees protect themselves from the sun?

These three basic tips from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can help you prevent a heat-related illness.

• Water. Hydration is key to preventing heat illnesses. Aim to drink about 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes while working in the heat, even when you don’t feel thirsty. If you’ll be outside for longer than two hours, sports drinks can help to balance electrolytes.
• Rest. It’s important to take breaks throughout the workday to help your body regulate its temperature. Recommended break frequency depends on several factors including temperature, heat index and type of activity.
• Shade. You should take breaks in the coolest location possible to help your body recover from the heat. This might be a shady outdoor area, tent, cooling trailer or break room without heat sources.

What should you do when someone has symptoms of a heat-related illness?

While prevention measures are key, it’s also important to be prepared in the event of an emergency. If someone shows signs of a heat-related illness, it’s important to:

• Move them somewhere cool and shaded as soon as possible. Ideally, you would move them into an air-conditioned space and allow them to rest and cool off. You may need to move them under a tree or somewhere with shade until a better solution can be found.
• Loosen any tight clothing and remove anything that’s unnecessary like shoes, socks, belts and personal protective equipment like vests or fall protection harnesses.
• Apply cool cloths or cold compresses to help their body’s temperature decrease.
• Cool down their body by fanning the person with a portable fan or any item that can be used to circulate cool air.
• Help them drink cool water at a slow but consistent pace. It’s important to replenish fluids steadily. For less severe illnesses, such as cramps, sports drinks can also help replenish nutrients.
• Get medical assistance if an employee’s heat cramps don’t subside within an hour or if any symptoms worsen. And as with any other injury or illness, don’t leave the employee unattended. Have someone take the employee to get medical attention.
• Call 911 immediately if a person shows signs of heat stroke such as confusion, fainting or seizures. While you wait for assistance, follow the other tips mentioned above. Someone should remain with the employee until help arrives.

For more tips on heat safety, log in to texasmutual.com, select Safety and visit our Safety and employer resources catalog. You can contact our safety services support center for assistance at safety@texasmutual.com or 844-WORKSAFE (967-5723).