With summer in full swing, it’s important to remember to keep cool wherever you are.
Soaring temperatures mean your body is potentially at risk for heat stress, which occurs when your body’s cooling system is put under pressure.
According to Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act, employers are legally required to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. To prevent heat-stress related illnesses, the Ministry of Labour has guidelines for employers. These include developing policies and procedures to protect workers in environments that are hot because of hot processes and/or weather.
If If you are physically exerting yourself in an environment that gets hot, it’s important to ensure you take preventative measures to keep yourself healthy.
Remember excessive heat can have a multitude of effects on your body, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke (the latter being potentially fatal). The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety reports signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, visual disturbances, intense thirst, nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, breathlessness, palpitations, tingling and numbness of the hands and feet.
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, signs of heat stroke include dry, hot skin (due to failure to sweat), a body temperature often exceeding 41°C, and complete or partial loss of consciousness.
TIPS TO STAY COOL AND HEALTHY THIS SUMMER
· Staying well-hydrated by drinking fluids regularly.
· Slowly acclimatize to working in the heat
· Wash regularly to keep skin clean and dry.
· Reduce activity levels and/or heat exposure.
· Move around and avoid standing in one place for too long.
· Workers should check on each other to help spot any heat-related symptoms.
· Wearing light-coloured, loose clothing
· Schedule heavy work for the coolest times of the day
· Stay away from alcohol and caffeine
· Take breaks to rest and recuperate when possible
Resources:
Ontario Ministry of Labour
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/gl_heat.php
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
http://www.wsib.on.ca/files/Content/PreventionHSGuide/HeatStressGuide.pdf
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/heat_health.html
Information courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
