Heat Stress is the overall heat load to which an employee may be exposed from the combined contributions of metabolic heat, environmental factors (i.e : air temperature, humidity, air movement and radiant heat) and clothing requirements.
Occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. By increasing the blood flow to the skin’s surface and by sweating. This results in cooling as sweat evaporates from the body’s surface and heat is carried to the surface of the body by the increased blood flow. Heat can also be lost by radiation and convection from the body’s surface.
The Effects of Heat Stress :
- An inability to concentrate
- Muscle cramps
- Heat rash
- Severe thirst (a late symptom of heat stress)
- Fainting
- Heat exhaustion - Fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin
- Heat stroke - Hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness.
- Can result in death if not detected at an early stage
