Whether working outdoors on the job site or indoors at a steel mill, prolonged exposure to high-heat environments and conditions can endanger workers' safety by causing heat-related illnesses with significant consequences.
To safeguard against such situations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have specific guidelines in place that workplaces and employers must abide by to ensure proper hydration and the safety of their employees. Employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment that "is free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees"—including heat-related hazards.
Some job-related risk factors that can lead to these hazards include outdoor work in direct sun and extremely hot weather; indoor radiant high-heat sources like fires, ovens, or other hot manufacturing processes; excessive strenuous physical activity; limited air circulation; personal protective work clothing that's heavy and non-breathable; compromised physical condition; medications; dehydration from not drinking enough fluids; and lack of recent exposure to the current work environment (not acclimatized).
The dangerous heat hazards recognized by OSHA and NIOSH include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting and dizziness), heat rash, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown and weakness). All employees and their employers should be familiar with and aware of each of these heat-related hazards and the symptoms common with them. For heat stroke, that includes confusion, slurred speech, unconsciousness, seizures, excessive sweating or hot and dry skin, extremely high body temperature, and rapid heart rate. Heat exhaustion signs include fatigue, irritability, thirst, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, heavy sweating, and elevated body temperature or fast heart rate. Heat cramps, usually in the arms, legs, and torso, are recognizable by muscle cramps and pain, while heat rash will manifest itself as clusters of red bumps on the skin most often near the upper chest, neck, and in skin folds.
Proactively combating the potential for heat stress on the job is everyone's responsibility and must be taken seriously. Employers can adhere to a water, rest, and shade principle. This consists of providing cool drinking water for employees for proper hydration during shorter work periods, with workers encouraged to drink 8 oz. of water every 20 minutes they're working in the hot conditions. For work lasting longer than 2 hours in high-heat environments, it's recommended that employers have available electrolyte-containing beverages such as Gatorade, Sqwincher or other sports drinks for workers.
These drinks can help replenish electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, potassium, and sodium that are lost when employees sweat excessively in hot conditions. Since water can't replace electrolytes, sports drinks can help prevent muscle fatigue, cramps, and other potentially dangerous health concerns.
In extremely hot conditions, rest breaks should be factored into the workday as well. How often and for how long depends on the conditions. And where the breaks take place also should be considered. Indoors, workers should rest and recover in air conditioning, if possible, away from the indoor radiant high-heat sources like fires, ovens, or other hot manufacturing processes to which they've been subjected. Outdoors, a shady area is a good resting spot, as well as a work truck or another vehicle with air conditioning, or perhaps a tent with misting devices set up at the work site for just that purpose.
Being cautious and staying hydrated shouldn't just take place while on the job; it should be done before, during, and after. It makes it easier to stay hydrated throughout the day in hot working conditions if you start out hydrated. If you're not, it's going to be tough to try and catch up during your workday.
During work, it's always important to drink before you feel thirsty. If you don't, and only decide to drink because you now feel thirsty, you're already behind in replacing fluids. You ward off dehydration by being consistent with your fluid intake, and drinking at regular, shorter intervals is better and more effective than drinking large quantities infrequently. If you regularly work in high-heat conditions, it's important for your health to continue to hydrate after you're done for the day as there's less strain put on the body from potential dehydration.
Since it may take several hours to replace the fluids lost through sweating in hot conditions, continuing the intake of fluids at the end of the day is important. However, be sure they're the right fluids. Water is always best since the electrolytes that you may have lost can always be easily replenished by a sound diet. Sports drinks are also an alternative if electrolytes need to be replaced, but their high sugar and carbohydrate content is a drawback to health and diet.
And while the hot working conditions may make you feel sluggish, resist the urge to down an energy drink. Many energy drinks contain excessive amounts of caffeine, and drinking too many during the day can raise your caffeine intake to a dangerous enough level that it could affect your heart. And, these high caffeine levels, when combined with the heated work environment, can put additional strain on your body. Also, there's a lot of sugar in these drinks, and that's just a lot of wasted calories you don't need.
If the thought of reaching for a cold, refreshing adult beverage sounds enticing, think twice about that, too. Alcohol can actually lead to dehydration, and drinking it within 24 hours of working in high heat can still lead to heat-related illnesses.
Controlling heat stress and maintaining proper hydration is a shared responsibility on the job. Knowing how to correctly do both ensures your workday remains safe—from the time you start until you leave for the day.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.