When working in heat, it is important to recognize heat related illness and take proper precautions to avoid it. OSHA encourages 1 cup of water every 20 minutes when working in the heat and encourages employers to provide electrolyte beverages for jobs lasting longer than 2 hours. Employees should take their scheduled breaks and find shade to replenish their bodies from the heat.
Heat related illness comes in many forms, and it is important to recognize the signs to take proper precautions. OSHA breaks down the signs and symptoms of various heat related illnesses below:
Heat Stroke
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Unconciousness
- Seizures
- Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin
- Very high body temperature
- Rapid heart rate
Heat Exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Thirst
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Heavy sweating
- Elevated body temperature of fast heart rate
Heat Cramps
- Muscle spasms or pain
- Usually in legs, arms, or trunk
Heat Syncope
- Fainting
- Dizziness
Heat Rash
- Clusters of red bumps on skin
- Often appears on neck, upper chest, and skin folds
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
- Muscle pain
- Dark urine or reduced urine input
- Weakness
Emergent Safety partners with Safeopedia to keep our customers up to date on what is new in the safety industry. The free webinars below are focused on Heat Stress, Dehydration and to help you keep cool in the summer months.
The hidden dangers of dehydration:
- Most people start their day already dehydrated
- If water isn’t replaced when sweating, the body will find fluids from key organs
- Mental performance decreases when the body is dehydrated
- Being 3-4% dehydrated can lower your work performance by approximately 25-50%
