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    ETG7 - Heat Stress at Work

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    Rahul Ramachandran
    This document provides guidelines on heat stress at work. It outlines the causes and symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It recommends treatments such as resting in shade, drinking fluids, and seeking medical help. It stresses the importance of prevention through adequate breaks, access to water, protective clothing, scheduling, and medical facilities to address heat stress risks in the workplace.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    ETG7 - Heat Stress at Work

    Uploaded by

    Rahul Ramachandran
    33 views3 pages
    This document provides guidelines on heat stress at work. It outlines the causes and symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It recommends treatments such as resting in shade, drinking fluids, and seeking medical help. It stresses the importance of prevention through adequate breaks, access to water, protective clothing, scheduling, and medical facilities to address heat stress risks in the workplace.

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    ETG7_heat Stress at Work

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    This document provides guidelines on heat stress at work. It outlines the causes and symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It recommends treatments such as resting in shade, drinking fluids, and seeking medical help. It stresses the importance of prevention through adequate breaks, access to water, protective clothing, scheduling, and medical facilities to address heat stress risks in the workplace.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    33 views3 pages

    ETG7 - Heat Stress at Work

    Uploaded by

    Rahul Ramachandran
    This document provides guidelines on heat stress at work. It outlines the causes and symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It recommends treatments such as resting in shade, drinking fluids, and seeking medical help. It stresses the importance of prevention through adequate breaks, access to water, protective clothing, scheduling, and medical facilities to address heat stress risks in the workplace.

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    DUBAI MUNICIPALITY

    ‫ﺒﻠﺩﻴﺔ ﺩﺒﻲ‬
    ‫ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺒﻴــــﺌﺔ‬
    ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

    ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION &


    ‫ﺇﺭﺷﺎﺩﺍﺕ ﻓﻨﻴــﺔ‬ ‫ﻗﺴﻢ ﲪﺎﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻣﺔ‬
    SAFETY SECTION Technical Guideline

    Number 7

    Heat Stress at Work

    Background: Heat stress is a significant occupational problems in this region. Heat


    stress in dependent on the environmental conditions and the physical
    activity being undertaken by the person. High temperature, high
    thermal radiation, high humidity, low air movement, high activity
    levels in the work place and the need to wear personal protective
    clothing, all combine to elevate the body temperature, resulting in heat
    cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The same degree of exposure
    may produce different effects depending upon the susceptibility of the
    person exposed. Dubai Occupational Health and Safety regulations
    Local Order 61 of 1991 requires the employer to ensure safe working
    environment in the workplace.

    Guidelines:

    1. Continued exposure to high temperature and humidity or to the hot sun is the
    common cause of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Supervisors
    must look for early signs of heat stress, relieve workers and provide appropriate
    treatment.

    2. Heat Cramps:

    Heat cramps are least serious form of heat stress caused by sweating, resulting
    in loss of water and minerals from the body. This imbalance my cause muscles
    to cramp.

    2.1. Signs and Symptoms:

    - Excessive sweating
    - Muscular pains and spasms
    - Mild dizziness or weakness
    - Inflamed or red bumps on skin and a rash.

    2.2. Treatment:

    - Rest in a cool or shady area

    1
    - Drink water or other fluids
    - Use warm, moist compresses over cramping muscles.

    3. Heat exhaustion:

    Heat exhaustion is caused by excessive perspiring because of a hot


    environment or strenuous physical exertion. The loss of water and minerals
    reduces the blood supply to major organs such as brain, muscles and skin. This
    causes strain on cardio-vascular system.

    3.1. Signs and symptoms:

    - A person suffering from heat exhaustion may collapse.


    - Excessive sweating
    - Cold, moist, pale skin
    - Thirst
    - Extreme weakness or fatigue
    - Headache
    - Nausea
    - Dizziness or giddiness

    3.2. Treatment:

    - Rest in a cool or shady area


    - Drink water or other fluids
    - Take additional salt if advised.
    - Use cool compresses on forehead, around the neck
    - Seek medical attention

    4- Heat Stroke:

    Heat stroke is more serious than heat exhaustion or cramps and is a life
    threatening medical emergency. Since blood flow and sweat cannot cool the
    body enough, it becomes overheated affecting vital organs including heart and
    brain.

    4.1. Signs and Symptoms:

    A person affected by heat stroke may have:

    - Lack of sweating
    - Hot, dry, flushed skin
    - Deep, rapid breathing
    - A rapid, weak and possibly irregular pulse
    - Headache, nausea
    - Dizziness, confusion
    - Loss of consciousness
    - Convulsions

    2
    4.2. Treatment:

    - Get medical treatment


    - Rest in a cool or shady area
    - Remove outer clothing
    - Lower body temperature immediately with cool compresses,
    increasing air movement, preferably both.
    - Give water or other fluids if conscious

    5- Preventing Heat Stress:

    5.1. Know which factors increase the risk of heat stress control the work
    environment.

    5.2. Increase water consumption to replenish the water lost from sweating

    5.3. Provide/take rest breaks depending upon conditions such as air


    temperature, sun exposure, radiating heat exposure and hard physical
    work.

    5.4. An employer shall provide heat protective clothing and equipment,


    when possible, loose lightweight clothing which encourages heat to be
    released and covers most areas of the body.

    5.5. An employer shall plan work schedules to help the employees to adapt
    to the heat for better acclimatization.

    5.6. An employer shall not require/allow an employee who is physically


    unfit to work in hot environment.

    5.7. An employer shall ensure adequate cool drinking water is available at


    each workplace. Sweet drinks such as canned soft drink should not be
    provided as these increase fluid loss.

    5.8. An employer shall ensure adequate medical facilities are made


    available in case of medical emergencies due to heat stress.

    Further Information is Available From:

    Environmental Protection & Safety Section


    ☎ 2064244 / 2064245 Fax: 2270160

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