The Dangers of Extreme Heat
Workers, who are exposed to hot and humid conditions, including the outdoors, factories and hot kitchens, are at the most risk for heat illness. Workers doing heavy work or wearing bulky protective clothing and equipment are also at risk. Some workers also might be at a greater risk than others if they haven't built up a tolerance to hot conditions. This process usually takes about 5-7 days.
For the human body to maintain a constant internal temperature, the body must get rid of excess heat. This is achieved primarily through sweating. The evaporation of sweat cools the skin, releasing large amounts of heat from the body.
The human body has a normal core temperature between 97ºF and 99ºF, but on average, a normal body temperature is 98.6ºF (37ºC). To maintain this temperature without the help of warming or cooling devices, the surrounding environment needs to be at about 82ºF (28ºC). At higher temperatures, sweating may not be sufficient to cool the body.
In the range of 90º and 105ºF (32º and 40ºC), employees may experience heat cramps and exhaustion, and between 105º and 130ºF (40º and 54ºC), heat exhaustion is possible. Temperatures over 130ºF (54ºC) often lead to heatstroke. Employees should limit work in temperatures over 90ºF.
Real-life Scenario
Heat Illness Claims the Life of Worker
A concrete finisher collapsed and died at a construction site after showing clear signs of heat illness. The incident occurred during extreme temperatures with the heat index nearing 107 degrees. As the heat index neared 107 degrees and humidity climbed to 85 percent – the worker was seen by coworkers stumbling, talking incoherently and eventually vomiting before becoming unresponsive. Though employees provided first aid and paramedics transported the worker to the hospital, the worker died only two hours after being admitted. OSHA's investigation revealed the company failed to provide necessary rest and shade, exposing this and 18 other workers to severe heat hazards during their 10-hour shifts. OSHA proposed penalties of $16,131 against the employer for these safety violations. OSHA also concluded:
"Had the employer ensured access to shade and rest in this brutal heat, this worker might not have lost their life and would have been able to end their shift safely," said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Alabama. "Regardless of the season – summer or winter – employers must establish rest cycles, train workers in identifying signs and symptoms of weather exposure, ensure workers have time to acclimate to temperatures, and implement and follow safety plans and ensure those plans are monitored. If not, weather conditions can have severe – and sadly, sometimes fatal – consequences, as they did in this case."Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. How long does it take for workers to build up a tolerance to hot conditions?
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