Heat Stress for Trainers and Supervisors

Tailgate Safety Training for Landscaping and Horticultural Services

AEX-892.2.22

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Date:

06/04/2018

Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Objective: Describe symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and explain emergency procedures for both.

Trainer’s Note

Heat stress is serious. It can lead to serious, permanent damage or death. For this module:

Provide copies of the OSHA Quick Card on Heat Stress shown below, available online from osha.gov/Publications/osha3154.pdf.
Review the information below on heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Discuss measures to prevent heat stress and appropriate emergency procedures.
Review the important points.
Have workers take the True/False quiz to check their learning.

Background

Controlling heat stress is very important to pesticide workers and early entry workers. Early entry workers go into an area while entry is restricted after pesticide treatment and must wear protective gear. However, heat stress can affect anyone!

Heat stress is a buildup of body heat caused either internally by muscle use or externally by the environment. Sometimes, the body is overwhelmed by heat. If so, heat exhaustion and heat stroke result. As the heat increases, body temperature and the heart rate rise painlessly. An increase in body temperature of 2 degrees Fahrenheit can affect mental functioning. A 5 degree Fahrenheit increase can result in serious illness or death. During hot weather, heat illness may be an underlying cause of other types of injuries, such as heart attacks, falls, and equipment incidents.

Signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion

The most serious heat-related illness is heat stroke. The symptoms are confusion, irrational behavior, convulsions, coma, and death. More than 20 percent of heat stroke victims die regardless of health or age. Younger workers seem to be more susceptible to heat stroke than adults.

One side effect of heat stroke is heat sensitivity. In other words, once you have had a heat stroke, you are more sensitive to high temperatures for the rest of your life. Varying degrees of brain and kidney damage can also occur.

Preventing Heat Stress Will:

Protect health — Heat illness is preventable and treatable before it is life threatening.
Improve safety — Any heat stress can impair functioning.
Increase productivity — People work slower and less efficiently when they are suffering from heat stress.

Everyone has an essential role to play in preventing heat stress. Each member of the team should use good judgment to prevent heat-related illness. A heat stress control program should protect all workers. These workers range from those who can work comfortably in heat to those in poor physical shape.

To Control Heat Stress

When possible, schedule heavy tasks and work requiring protective gear for cooler morning or evening hours.
In prolonged, extremely hot temperatures, nonessential tasks should be postponed.
Drink one glass of water every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the heat and humidity. This is the best way to replace lost body fluid.
Read medication labels to know how they cause the body to react to the sun and heat.
Avoid alcohol and drugs as they can increase the effects of heat.
Build up tolerance for working in the heat. Heat tolerance is normally built up over a one- to two-week time period.
Take breaks to cool down. A 10- to 15-minute break every two hours is effective.
Adapt work and pace to the weather.
Provide heat stress training to workers and supervisors.
Manage work activities. Match them to employees’ physical condition.
Use special protective gear, such as cooling garments, headbands, and cooling vests on early entry workers.
Know heat stress first-aid techniques.

Heat Exhaustion First Aid

Move the victim to a cool place.
Keep the victim lying down with legs straight and elevated 8 to 12 inches.
Cool the victim by applying cold packs or wet towels or cloths. Fan the victim.
Give the victim cold water if he or she is fully conscious.
If no improvement is noted within 30 minutes, seek medical attention.

Heat Stroke First Aid

Move the victim to a cool place. Monitor temperature. Remove heavy clothing. Light clothing can be left in place.
Cool the victim right away by any available means, such as placing ice packs at areas with abundant blood supply (neck, armpits, and groin). Wet towels or sheets are also effective. The cloths should be kept wet with cool water.
To prevent hypothermia, continue cooling the victim until his/her temperature drops to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep the victim's head and shoulders slightly elevated.
Seek medical attention right away. All heat stroke victims need hospitalization.
Care for seizures if they occur.
Do not use aspirin or acetaminophen.

Personal Protection Equipment and Heat Stress

Most Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) limits sweat evaporation but not sweat production. Chemical resistant suits can cause rapid thirst if sweat is not replaced. To slow the buildup of heat when wearing PPE, use special cooling wear.

If the temperature is above 70 F—Cooling vests may be useful when pesticide handlers are wearing chemical-resistant suits. They are either doing heavy or moderate work for a prolonged period.
If the temperature is above 80 F—Working in chemical-resistant suits for more than a half hour without taking frequent water and rest breaks is unsafe. Cooling garments and frequent breaks are recommended.

Breathing resistance is minimized, and the air stream has a cooling effect. Thus, powered air-purifying respirators and supplied-air respirators generally feel cooler than other types of respirators.

Review These Important Points

Heat stress is serious. Heat stress should be handled as such.
As strain from heat increases, body temperature and heart rate can rise rapidly.
Exposure to heat can be serious to workers of all ages.
Have plenty of liquids available. Administer first aid as needed.

About These Modules
The author team for the training modules in the landscape and horticultural tailgate training series includes Dee Jepsen, Program Director, Agricultural Safety and Health, Ohio State University Extension; Michael Wonacott, Research Specialist, Vocational Education; Peter Ling, Greenhouse Specialist; and Thomas Bean, Agricultural Safety Specialist. Modules were developed with funding from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant Number 46E3-HT09.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Department of Labor.