June 12, 2024

Cool planning for working in the Texas heat

Texas summers aren’t getting any cooler. Every year, heat exposure causes thousands of work-related injuries and dozens of fatalities. Employees working in hot environments can be protected by learning about heat illness prevention methods, recognizing symptoms early and knowing basic first aid.

Planning for heat impacts

Using the heat index is a more accurate reflection of how the climate will affect employees. This measure combines air temperature and relative humidity to tell us the temperature our bodies perceive. For example, even though the thermometer might read 99 degrees, with high humidity, it could feel like 104 degrees outside.

The National Weather Service (NWS) HeatRisk tool can assist in planning. Like the heat index, it factors in humidity. It also considers how unusual the heat is for the season, how long it will last and how it might impact the health of more vulnerable employees. This tool offers a color-coded forecast map that predicts the risk of heat-related illnesses within a 24-hour period with a forecast range of 7 days.

What is heat illness?

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

Types of heat-related illnesses:

• 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.
• Heat cramps are caused by fluid and electrolyte loss. Sweating causes a loss of body salts, and when levels are low enough, it can lead to muscle cramps or pain in the abdomen, arms or legs.
• 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.
• Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) occurs when heat stress combines with prolonged physical exertion causing muscle breakdown. Symptoms include muscle cramps/pain, dark urine or weakness. If left untreated, it can result in irregular heart rhythms, seizures or kidney damage.
• 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.
• 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 hallucinate. Their body stops sweating and they may feel chills, exhibit slurred speech or have seizures. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated quickly.

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

If someone has 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 to fend for themselves. 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.

How can employees protect themselves from the sun?

These three basic tips from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) can help you prevent a heat-related illness.

• Stay cool and stay indoors as much as possible. If you do need to be outside, try to limit your exposure to the sun and always wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing along with a hat and sunglasses to block out direct sunlight.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water consistently when working outdoors or in hot environments. The CDC recommends one cup of water every 15-20 minutes. If employees are outside for extended periods of time, sports drinks can help to balance electrolytes. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or that are high in sugar.
• Stay informed by checking your local weather and knowing the signs of heat-related illnesses. Use the buddy system to lookout for co-workers.

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. The hierarchy of controls below identifies what level of protection is needed based on the heat index.

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

• Provide air conditioning and/or cooling fans.
• Increase ventilation.
• Install local exhaust ventilation, such as exhaust hoods in laundry rooms and other hot, moist workplaces.
• Redirect heat with reflective shields.
• Insulate hot surfaces, such as furnace walls.

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

• Promote water, rest and shade.
• Allow workers to acclimatize, or gradually get used to working in hot conditions.
• Modify work practices to reduce employee's heat exposure.
• Train workers to monitor themselves and their co-workers for signs of heat stress and to administer first aid when necessary.
• Conduct physiological monitoring of workers when necessary.
• Encourage workers to download the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app.

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

• Broad-brimmed hats with neck flaps.
• Light-colored, breathable clothing.
• Safety glasses with tinted, polarized lenses.
• Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• Water-cooled garments, air-cooled garments, cooling vests and wetted over-garments.
• Insulated gloves, insulated suits, reflective clothing and infrared reflecting face shields.
• Thermally conditioned clothing, such as a garment with a self-contained air conditioner in a backpack.
• A garment with a compressed air source that feeds cool air through a vortex tube.
• A plastic jacket with pockets filled with dry ice or containers of ice.

Heat illness prevention programs help to document and educate your employees on:

• The hazards of heat stress.
• Predisposing factors, danger signs and symptoms of heat illness.
• What to do in the event of an emergency.
• Employee’s responsibility in avoiding heat stress.
• The dangers of using drugs, including therapeutic ones and alcohol in hot work environments.
• How to properly use protective clothing and equipment.

For more tips on heat safety, log in to texasmutual.com and visit our safety resource center.