Take the stress out of hot work this summer

Gas, equipment and safety specialist BOC, a Member of The Linde Group, is warning workers to keep their cool this summer and safeguard themselves against potentially life-threatening heat stress.

BOC’s Senior Product Manager for Safety in the South Pacific, Joe Martinez, said that with another sizzling Australian summer bearing down, it was time to ensure employers and staff were equipped and educated for the conditions.

“Working in a hot environment can cause the body to overheat, or suffer heat stress,’’ Martinez said. “Heat exhaustion can result if fluids are not taken to replace those lost by sweating. In the extreme, heatstroke may occur, and this condition can be fatal.

“Precautions should be taken and work regimes adjusted to ensure that deep-body temperature is maintained within its required operating range.”

BOC advises that there are a number of factors which contribute to increased body temperatures for workers such as metabolism (processing food), physical activity, ambient air temperature, radiation from the sun and any hot objects nearby.

“If you are required to work in a hot environment, like in the furnace area of a steelworks or glassworks, in a boiler house, or have to weld on, or in, a preheated vessel, for example, you must take steps to prevent your deep-body temperature from rising dangerously high,’’ Martinez said.

According to the publication ‘Perioperative Thermoregulation and Temperature Monitoring’ by Insler and Sessler, the human body only functions properly if the temperature deep within it is maintained between about 37 and 38°C. Heat stress on the body occurs when the deep-body temperature rises above about 38°C. The consequences of heat stress can be serious and, even, fatal.

The early signs of heat-related illness can include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting and fainting.

BOC recommends the following precautions for workers in hot and humid environments:

• Always eat a healthy breakfast then eat high-energy and easily digested foods throughout the day;
• Drink an electrolyte replacement drink, such as Sqwincher, regularly before, during and after work - more on hotter days;
• Use fans or other forced-air ventilation to aid cooling;
• Wear clothing specifically designed to keep you cool, such as Allegro cooling liners and beanies for hard hats, cool-off neck ties and cooling vests; and
• Work in short periods, followed by longer rest periods.

For heat-affected people, the following first-aid advice is recommended:

• Heat exhaustion
  • Transfer casualty to a cool place;
  • Remove any heavy, restrictive clothing; and
  • Give plenty of fluid, to be taken in sips.
• Heat stroke
  • Transfer casualty to a cool place and remove clothing; and
  • Always seek medical advice, as heat stroke can kill!