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Beat the Heat
How to Keep Cool on the Job

THE EFFECTS OF HEAT

Being uncomfortable isn't the only problem with working in high tem­peratures and humidity. Workers also may suffer serious health problems if precautions are not taken.

Mental alertness and ability to work also may be lowered by the heat. Workers in really hot places may make more mistakes and have more accidents.

MEASURING HEAT

The temperature of the air taken with a regular weather thermometer does not tell you everything about how hot your job is. Other facts you must consider include:

• The humidity.
• How close you work to hot operations, such as driers or furnaces.
• Whether there's good air circula­tion.
• Whether you have to move around a lot or do heavy work.

A special thermometer called a Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) makes measurements which take temperature, humidity, and air movement into account. If your employer makes measurements with a WBGT thermo­meter, the union has the right under OSHA and NLRB rules to see the results.

The National Institute for Occupa­tional Safety and Health uses the fol­lowing guidelines for judging how hot a workplace is:

• A "hot environment" is any place with a WBGT reading over 79EF (76EF for women).
• For someone doing moderate work for 45 minutes out of every hour, the WBGT reading should not be more than 82-85EF.
• For someone doing light work sitting down, exposure should be lim­ited to 30 minutes if the temperature is 100EF.

Ask your union representative if you need help in getting a detailed explanation of heat stress measure­ments where you work.

CONTROLLING HEAT EXPOSURE

Heat should be controlled through workplace changes ("engineering con­trols") such as the following:

• Fans increase air circulation and evaporation of sweat but are only effective if the air temperature is be­low 98EF.
• Shields or insulation can isolate hot operations from other parts of the workplace.
• Air conditioners in cabs, booths, rest areas, or lunch rooms help cool down the body.
• Local ventilation can draw heat or steam away from the work area.

KEEPING COOL

Engineering controls do not always work in keeping temperatures down. In addition, some workers face ex­treme heat while working outdoors, where most engineering controls are not practical.  In these situations, the employer should consider special work practices:

Adjustment periods of a week or more should be provided when the first hot spells hit, when a new worker is hired, or when someone returns from vacation.

Heat breaks or slowing down the pace of work should be allowed, espe­cially if the worker feels even slight heat strain.

Rest areas should be cool and lo­cated near the workplace.

Cool water should be easily avail­able. In really hot conditions, workers should drink at least a cup every 15­-20 minutes.

Different schedules may be nego­tiated to let workers do the hardest work during the coolest parts of the day.

Salt solution (one tablespoon of salt dissolved in 15 quarts of water) should be available‑‑although people with heart problems or with low ­sodium diets should avoid it.

There is no OSHA standard for heat stress on the job.

Courtesy of TheWorkSite.org.