Occupational Heat Exposure

All-time heat records have been set all over the world. Operators who are exposed to hot workplace may be at risk of heat stress. Over the past few years, Many consequences have been impacted by this drastic climate change, namely increasing heat waves, glacier melting and floods. Thus, operators wearing protective clothing need to be careful in excessive heat working environment.

Several precautions can be carried out as following:

Provide suitable PPE

During selection process of PPE, minimum criteria is to cope with environmental risk. Safety managers can assort protective clothing with sufficient protection and breathability, as operators might need body cooling and sweat evaporation.  ULTITEC 2000B is designed to work in warm environment. It allows high breathability through breathable back panel.

Encourage regular breaks and hydration

Safety managers need to set up a ventilated rest area, and may provide constant and longer breaks, also remind operators to stay hydrated as body comprises approximately 60% water. Sweat is produced to evaporate to keep core temperature regulated at 98.6°F (32°C). In other words, sweating is how body simmers itself down when it gets overheated.

Wear protective clothing properly

It is usual that operators unzip or take off garment for cooling purpose. Moreover, they are hesitate to wear protective clothing and expose body in danger. Hence, it is important to make sure operators wear protective clothing properly to ensure they can go home safely.

Prep first aid process for heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Heat exhaustion usually happens when workplace is hot and humid, results in loss of body fluids through sweating, which causes overheat and dehydrated. While heat stroke is due to untreated heat exhaustion, causes malfunction of body cooling system and body temperature rises to the dangerous state, at which damage to brain or internal organs may occur.