Transcript HEAT STRESS
HEAT STRESS
Vincent J. Giblin, General President
1293 Airport Road
Phone: (304) 253-8674
Beaver, WV 25813
Fax: (304) 253-7758
E-mail: [email protected]
This material was produced under grant number
46C5-HT16 from the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views
or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
does mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply endorsement by
the U.S. Government.
RECENT HEAT RELATED DEATHS
Korey Stringer
– 27 Yrs Old
6’3” 335 lbs
Eraste Autin
– 18 Yrs Old
7-25-01
6’2” 250 lbs
Preston Birdsong
– 18 Yrs Old
7-31-01
8-13-00
5’11” 190 lbs
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
COMMON FACTORS
(Worker vs. Athlete)
Protective clothing
Focus on task at hand
Job security concerns
Desire to succeed
Desire to be accepted
Machismo
Peer pressure
Delayed thirst mechanism
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
U.S. HEAT STROKE STATS
At least 300 deaths/year
7421 deaths from 1979-1998
1700 deaths in 1980 alone
Causes more deaths annually than
hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and
earthquakes combined
18 high school and college football player
deaths since 1995
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PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES
TO OVERHEATING
English Translation:
What happens when you get
too dang hot
“TOO DANG HOT RESULTS”
Excessive sweat loss results in dehydration
The body loses its ability to cool
Increased blood flow to skin causes
decrease in organ function
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HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES
HEAT CRAMPS
HEAT EXHAUSTION
HEAT STROKE
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HEAT CRAMPS
Caused by excessive loss of electrolytes
Early warning sign of heat stress
Painful cramps usually in legs or abdomen
Stop activity, hydrate, rest in cool place
Get medical attention if condition continues
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HEAT EXHAUSTION
The body’s response to excessive water
and electrolyte loss
Stop activity and seek treatment
immediately
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HEAT STROKE
The body’s cooling mechanism shuts down
50% that reach the heat stroke stage die
even with medical attention
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LIVE OR DIE?
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Skin is pale
Excessive sweating
May faint but usually
conscious
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Blurred vision
Dizziness
HEAT STROKE
Skin is red
No sweating
Unconscious or
incoherent
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TREATMENT
HEAT EXHAUSTION
HEAT STROKE
Call 911
Call 911
Rest in cool place
Loosen and remove
unnecessary clothing
Immediate,
aggressive, effective
cooling
Shower or sponge
with cool water
DO NOT give
anything by mouth
Transport to hospital
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
HUMAN RISK FACTORS
Poor nutrition
Lack of acclimatization
Poor physical
Over 40
condition
Illness (diabetes, asthma)
High and low % body Pregnancy
fat
Diet plans
Previous heat illness
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
FACTORS
Air temperature
Direct sunlight
Radiant heat
Humidity
Little air movement
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JOB RISK FACTORS
Work intensity
Work duration
Location (roof, road, enclosure)
Clothing (weight, impermeability)
Respiratory protection
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WORKER RESPONSIBILITY
Follow instructions of IH and health care
professionals
Be watchful for symptoms (self and others)
Properly hydrate (before, during, after)
Get adequate rest
Avoid alcohol, unnecessary medication,
and caffeine
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBILITY
Ensure that
environmental
conditions are
Know workers
medical history
Assure workers are
monitored
Adjust work practices
as necessary
Be watchful for signs
of overexposure
properly trained
Conduct pre and post
job safety meetings
Assure that affected
workers receive
treatment
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
MONITORING
Environmental monitoring
– WBGT (heat index= temp+humidity+radiant)
used for guidance in establishing work/rest ratio
Personnel monitoring
– Oral thermometer
– Ear probe
–
–
–
–
R*&%$! Thermometer
Core Temp
Pulse rate
Blood pressure
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COOLING WEAR
Traditional ice vests
Chem-pack vests, headbands, & bandanas
Active cooling garment (water circulating)
SAR and PAPR with active cooling
systems
New material development (breathable,
lighter weight, waterproof)
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COLD STRESS
Hypothermia
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Cold Stress
(Hypothermia)
• Acute problem resulting from prolonged
cold exposure and heat loss
• “Hypo” (too little) “Thermia” (heat)
• 750 deaths/year in USA
• Generally doesn’t present the same level
of danger as heat stress
– Does not occur as quickly
– Workers will simply come in out of the cold
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
MAJOR CAUSES
• Cold Temperatures
– 41 degrees F is cold enough with other contributing
factors
• Improper clothing and equipment
• Wetness
– Sweating, contact with water
– Water conducts heat away from the body 25 Xs faster
than air
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
Contributing Factors
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Hunger
• Alcohol intake
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Cold Stress Hazards
• SYSTEMIC
• LOCALIZED
– Hypothermia
– Frostnip
– Frostbite
– Trench Foot
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Signs and Symptoms
• Hypothermia
– Body temp <95 degrees F
– Euphoria
– Slow weak pulse
– Slurred speech
– Shivering
– Unconsciousness
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Signs and Symptoms
• Frostnip/Frostbite
– Itching/burning/numb
– Skin color change
•
•
•
•
White
Grayish yellow
Reddish violet
Black
• Trench Foot
– Severe pain/itch/tingle
– Swelling
– Blisters
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First Aid
• Hypothermia
– Move to warm area
– Remove wet clothing
– Modest external
warming
• Blankets/heat packs
– Drink warm sweet
fluids (non-caffeinated)
– Transport to hospital
• Frostnip/Frostbite
– Move to warm area
– External warming
• Warm water
– Drink warm sweet
fluids (non-caffeinated)
– Treat as burn (do not
rub)
– Transport to hospital
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
Body Response Mechanisms
• Vasoconstriction
– Blood vessel constriction
– Reduces heat loss/makes skin better insulator
• Shivering
– Increases body temp as vasoconstriction fails
• **NEITHER ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS
SWEATING AND ACCLIMATION ARE
FOR HEAT STRESS
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
Behavior Is The Key!
• Behavior is the primary protection factor
for cold stress prevention
– Increase clothing insulation
– Increase activity
– Seek warm location
– Get the H$!! out of there
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
Cold Stress Solutions
• Engineering Controls- Warming shelters, spot
heating (i.e. hand warmers), minimize air
movement (shielding)
• Work Practices- fluid replacement, change wet
clothes immediately, buddy system
• Administration Controls-work/rest cycles,
warm period work, allow for productivity
reductions
• PPE
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
Clothing Tips
• Dress in Layers
– Add or remove for comfort
– Allows free movement and dexterity
• Layer closest to skin should be “water
vapor permeable”
– Wicks away moisture, allows evaporation,
prevents accumulation
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
This material was produced under grant
number 46C5-HT16 from the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor. It does not
necessarily reflect the views or policies of
the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does
mention of trade names, commercial
products, or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Operating Engineers National Hazmat Program
END
•This publication was made possible by
grant numbers 5 U45 ES06182-13 AND
5 U45 ES09763-13 from the National
Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences (NIEHS), NIH. Its contents are
solely the responsibility of the authors
and do not necessarily represent the
official views of the NIEHS, NIH.
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