THERMAL STRESS

…..A DISCUSSION OF THE

HEALTH HAZARDS
ASSOCIATED WITH
TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY EXTREMES
 Overview
 Sources of heat  Sources of cold
– High air – Low air temperatures
temperatures
– Wet and windy
– Radiant heat sources environments
– High humidity
– Direct physical
– Direct physical contact with cold
contact with hot
objects objects
– Strenuous physical
activities
 Industries
 Iron and steel foundries
 Brick-firing plant
 Ceramic plants
 Glass products facilities
 Rubber products
factories
 Electrical utilities
 Bakeries
 Commercial kitchens
 Laundries
 Food canneries
 Chemical plants
 Mining sites*
 Smelters
 Steam tunnels
 Construction sites*
 Asbestos removal
 Hazardous waste site
activities*
* cold or heat exposure
 Key Definitions
 Heat – a measure of energy

 Metabolism - the system of chemical activities by which a living thing gets

power (energy) from other things, such as food

 Conduction- the transfer of heat between materials that contact each other

 Convection- the transfer of heat in a moving fluid

 Radiation - the transfer of heat energy through space

 Evaporative cooling- takes place when sweat evaporates from the skin

 Hypothermia – systematic effect of cold stress; reduced body temperature

 Hyperthermia – systematic effect of heat stress; increase in core body

temperature
 Causal Factors
 Primary:  Secondary
– Environment/climatic – Age
conditions – Weight
– Clothing – Degree of physical
– Work Demands fitness
– Degree of acclimatization
– Use of alcohol or drugs
– Medical conditions
– Prior heat/cold injuries
Responses of Humans to Heat

 Increased flow of
blood
 Sweating
 Illnesses/disorders
 Acclimatization to
heat
 Susceptibility to
diseases
 Signs and Symptoms
Heat Stress
 Markedly raised temperature of about 40°C (104°F) or more.
 Headache, nausea, vomiting; loss of appetite
 Fast heart rate (tachycardia); fast breathing
 Red skin; skin may feel hot to touch
 Profuse sweating which eventually leads to an absence of sweating
 Chills and shivering is possible
 Confusion; dizziness; fainting; convulsions; coma/unconsciousness
 Temporary Blindness is possible

Cold Stress
 Dry, cold skin
 Shivering, but only during the early stages
 Slow pulse; slow breathing
 Drowsiness, which can lapse into coma.
Metabolic Expenditures
 sleeping
 desk work
 light machine work
 moderate
assembly work
 lifting, manual
handling
 pick & shovel work
 Activities Within Metabolic Rate
Categories
Category Example Activities
Resting Sitting quietly; sitting with moderate arm movements

Light Sitting with moderate arm and leg movements; standing

with light work at machine; using table saw, some walking
about
Moderate Scrubbing in a standing position; walking with moderate
lifting or pushing or carrying 3 kg load
Heavy Sawing by hand; shoveling dry sand; heavy assembly work
on a non-continuous basis; intermittent heavy lifting with
pushing or pulling (pick-and-shovel work)
Very Heavy Shoveling wet sand
 Heat-Related Illnesses
 Heat stroke
 Heat exhaustion
 Heat cramps
 Heat collapse
 Heat rash
 Heat fatigue
Standards…
 OSHA General Duty
Clause

 ACGIH –
100.4°F/96.8°F
 Ways to reduce heat stress
 Engineering controls
– Ventilation
– Shielding
– Cooling fans, etc.
 Work practices
– Drinking plenty of water
– Training
 Move to cooler place
 Reduce work pace or work load
 Removing or loosening clothing
 Acclimate
 Ways to reduce cold stress
 Engineering controls
– Heating
– Shielding (from wind)
 Work practices
– Training
 Move to warmer place; avoid winds and wet
environments
 Clothing
– Adequate insulating dry clothing
– Protect extremities
 Summary of Identification
 Is the environment recognized as being
hot/cold, is protective clothing required, or are
work demands high (in a hot environment)?
 Are worker behaviors indicative of attempts to
reduce heat or cold stress, is morale low or
absenteeism high, or are people making
mistakes or getting hurt?
 Do medical records show a pattern of the
symptoms of exposure?
 Are body temperatures (or in the case of heat
stress- heart rate or sweat losses high) on a
sample of workers?