Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AWARENESS GUIDE
outlines specific actions for managing and training on injury and illness prevention
controlling heat stress
consulting services
Table of contents
Is heat stress a concern in your workplace?. . . . . . . 3
The law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Control measures:
Disclaimer General, job-specific, and personal. . . . . . . . . . . 9
5252A (04/07) © 2007, WSIB Ontario. Printed in Canada F Environment Canada contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
The law
Employers have a duty under Section 25(2)(h) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every
precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the
protection of a worker. This includes developing
policies and procedures to protect workers in hot
environments due to hot processes or hot weather.
For compliance purposes, the Ministry of Labour
recommends the current threshold limit value
(TLV) for heat stress and heat strain, published
by the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). These values are
based on preventing unacclimatized workers’ core
temperatures from rising above 38°C. See Ministry
of Labour web document “Heat stress health and
safety guideline” for details.
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
heat cramps
Heavy sweating drains a
C au ses
sunburn
Painful cramps in arms,
Too much exposure to legs, or stomach that occur
suddenly at work or later
C au ses
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Causes, symptoms,
and treatment
Heat stress symptoms are a set of natural signals
telling you that something needs to be done to
balance your body’s heating and cooling. As your
body heats up, it tries to rid itself of excess heat
through the evaporation of sweat. If it is unable
to cool itself this way, your body temperature will
increase. When body temperature gets above
38-39°C, the brain starts to overheat, leading
to a shutdown of your body’s cooling system
(sweating stops). Your temperature now rises
heat stroke
even faster, leading to heat stroke and possibly
death. The causes, symptoms, and treatment of If a person’s body has
various heat-related illnesses are listed here: used up all its water and
salt reserves, it will stop
sweating, which can cause
C au ses
heat exhaustion
body temperature to rise;
Fluid loss and inadequate heat stroke may develop
salt and water intake causes suddenly or may follow
C au ses
headache or dizziness;
S y m p to m s
THIS IS AN IMMEDIATE
GET MEDICAL ATTENTION MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
Assess need for CPR; PROMPT ACTION MAY
move to a cool area; loosen GET MEDICAL AID SAVE THE PERSON’S LIFE
clothing; make person This condition can lead
lie down; and when the to heat stroke, which can CALL AN AMBULANCE
T reat m e n t
person is conscious, offer kill; move the person to a This condition can kill a
T reat m e n t
sips of cool water. cool shaded area; loosen person quickly; remove
T reat m e n t
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
This tool kit provides a simplified version of the If completely encapsulating suits are worn, heat stress
WBGT by converting it into Humidex values. It should be managed by monitoring vital signs, as
allows workplaces to measure heat stress using recommended by the ACGIH TLV
only workplace temperature and humidity. (See
Appendix B on page 12 for more details.) The Step 3
following five steps help determine actions to
Select a measurement location
reduce heat stress.
Divide the workplace into zones that have similar heat
exposures.
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Develop, communicate and implement the heat Consider cooling vests, if feasible and effective
stress plan for all workers. for the individual.
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
10
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix A
Heat stress policy (sample)
(Company name)
11
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix B
The following heat stress reference chart is a Limitations: This table is based on the assumption
translation of the 2007 ACGIH moderate action that the work is being performed under conditions
level (unacclimatized) workload category WBGT with little or no radiant heat, and workers wearing
values from the heat stress/strain TLV into Humidex regular summer clothing; if your conditions vary
units. Since the Ministry of Labour heat stress from these, use the steps listed on pages 6 and 7 to
guidelines state that “hot spells in Ontario seldom make adjustments.
last long enough for workers to acclimatize,”
workers performing “moderate” work (e.g., work An online version of the chart is available for
with some pushing, lifting) cannot be assumed to download at www.ohcow.on.ca/menuweb/
be acclimatized unless they are regularly exposed hhrplan.pdf
to significant radiant heat. Workers performing
An online calculator can be accessed at
“heavy” work (e.g., shovelling dry sand), however,
www.ohcow.on.ca/menuweb/heat_stress_
could probably be considered acclimatized once
calculator.htm
they are into the warm-weather season.
38 49 47 45 44 42 40 38 36 38
37 49 47 45 44 42 40 38 37 35 37
36 50 49 47 45 44 42 40 39 37 35 34 36
35 50 48 47 45 44 42 40 39 37 36 34 33 35
34 49 48 46 45 43 42 40 39 37 36 34 33 31 34
33 50 48 47 46 44 43 41 40 39 37 36 34 33 32 30 33
32 50 49 48 46 45 44 42 41 40 38 37 36 34 33 32 30 29 32
31 50 49 48 47 45 44 43 42 40 39 38 37 35 34 33 32 30 29 28 31
30 48 47 46 44 43 42 41 40 39 37 36 35 34 33 32 30 29 28 27 30
29 46 45 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 29
28 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 28
27 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 27
26 39 38 37 36 35 34 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 26
25 37 36 35 34 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 25
24 35 34 33 33 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 24
23 33 32 32 31 30 29 28 28 27 26 25 23
22 31 30 30 29 28 27 27 26 25 25 22
21 29 29 28 27 27 26 25 21
100% 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10%
12
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Humidex 1 or Humidex 2
There are two Humidex guidelines to determine the Humidex 1 general controls include
appropriate actions required: providing annual heat stress training, encouraging
adequate fluid replacement, permitting self-
Humidex 1 refers to unacclimatized workers limitation of exposure, encouraging the watching
doing “moderate” work, and ranges indicate the out for symptoms in co-workers, and adjusting
need for general heat stress controls. expectations for workers coming back to work after
an absence.
Humidex 2 refers to acclimatized workers doing
“moderate” work, and ranges indicate the need for Humidex 2 specific controls include (in
job-specific controls. addition to general controls) engineering controls
to reduce physical job demands, shielding of
The ACGIH specifies an action limit and a TLV
radiant heat, increased air movement, reduction
to prevent workers’ body temperatures from
of heat and moisture emissions at the source,
exceeding 38°C (38.5°C for acclimatized workers).
adjusting exposure times to allow sufficient
Below the action limit (which corresponds to
recovery, and personal body-cooling equipment.
Humidex 1 for work of moderate physical activity),
most workers will not experience heat stress. Most Example: Suppose the temperature in the
healthy, well-hydrated, acclimatized workers not on workplace is measured at 33°C and the relative
medication will be able to tolerate heat stress up to humidity is 50%. The Humidex would be 41 (see
the TLV (Humidex 2 for moderate physical activity). heat stress reference chart, page 12).
Humidex 1 Humidex 2
general controls Action RECOMMENDED specific controls
* For Humidex ranges above 45, heat stress should be managed as per the ACGIH TLV
13
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix C
The self-audit checklist A self-audit can determine what mechanisms and practices
your workplace has in place to combat heat stress. It also
indicates which programs or practices may be deficient and
require attention.
Employer
Supervisor
JHSC/H&S representative
Worker
Jobs at risk
Monitoring results
First aid
Reporting procedures
Medical surveillance
14
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Accident/incident reports
Type of testing
Frequency
15
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix D
Essentials for a successful heat stress prevention program
Identifying hazards, assessing risk, and Signs and symptoms of heat-related disorders
determining needs
Importance of reporting signs and symptoms to
The organization must perform and document
supervisors
an assessment to identify all risk factors in
the workplace that could lead to heat stress. When, how, and why to take breaks from hot work
Consideration should be given to legislative
Recognition, assessment, and evaluation of heat
requirements, industry best practices, internal lost-
stress
time data, etc. Tools to perform this assessment
could include walk-through inspections, surveys, Controls for heat stress
checklists, and task analysis. These assessments
should be repeated periodically, or as often as Measurement
processes in the organization change. The organization should keep track of data that can
provide an evaluation of the heat stress prevention
Implementation of the plan and strategy program. For example, you should keep track
Once the risks and needs have been identified, of lost-time injuries due to heat and hot weather
the organization should develop a plan to address conditions, worker complaints of discomfort after
them. The plan should define responsibilities, prolonged work, and purchases of equipment
accountabilities, timelines, and milestones for meeting standards that have been set. You may
implementing the plan. want to repeat a needs assessment or a heat survey
done earlier to get comparative data after controls
Standards have been put in place to check if the controls are
The organization should establish and document adequate.
its standards for heat stress prevention, considering
guidelines from professional bodies, industry best
practices, etc.
16
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Evaluation
The organization should analyze the measurement
data to determine the degree of compliance and
effectiveness of the heat stress prevention program
by looking at indicators such as:
17
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix E
Research and support
Technical support is available from your Health and Workers Health & Safety Centre
Safety Association. Workplace-specific information, www.whsc.on.ca
as well as training and consulting services for illness
and injury prevention, are provided by the Health Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
and Safety Associations of Ontario, the Workers www.ohcow.on.ca
Health and Safety Centre, and the Occupational
Health Clinics for Ontario Workers. Other sources of information on heat
stress include:
Construction Safety Association of Ontario
www.csao.org Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
www.wsib.on.ca
Education Safety Association of Ontario
www.esao.on.ca Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Electrical & Utilities Safety Association
www.eusa.on.ca Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(USA)
Farm Safety Association www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/recog
www.farmsafety.ca nition.html
Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health For information on humidity, weather
Association reports, and smog alerts:
www.masha.on.ca
Environment Canada
Municipal Health and Safety Association www.msc.ec.gc.ca
www.mhsao.com
Environment Canada fact sheet:
Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association summer severe weather
www.ofswa.on.ca www.on.ec.gc.ca/severe-weather/summer.html
Ontario Safety Association for Community and OHCOW Humidex-based heat stress calculator
Healthcare www.ohcow.on.ca/menuweb/heat_stress_
www.osach.ca calculator.htm
18
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE
Appendix F
Environment Canada contacts
www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca
As of 2008: Dial 511 for access to the latest weather and road
conditions, anywhere in Canada, via a touch-tone phone.
19
HE AT STRESS AWARENESS GUIDE