When workers spend hours in the hot sun, they face several risks, including sunburn and heat stress. While sunburn can be prevented with sunblock and some protective clothing, heat stress requires a more careful, strategic approach. CHARNAUD® explains what strategies you need to keep your workers cool and comfortable with heat stress ppe.

Protecting Outdoor Workers Against Heat Stress

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 2.4 billion workers worldwide are exposed to excessive heat each year, resulting in over 22.85 million injuries and 19,000 deaths. What makes this even more tragic is that, while heat stress is a common occupational hazard, it is also easily preventable with the strategic use of the correct PPE.

Let’s consider the facts about heat exposure and the methods you can use to keep its tragic effects at bay.

Read our blog for more tips and advice on all varieties of PPE.

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What is Heat Stress?

Heat stress happens when your body absorbs more heat than it can release. The body’s natural temperature regulation systems cannot function, and the core temperature rises to an unhealthy level. Symptoms range from the problematic but mild, to life-threatening. They include:

  • Profuse sweating (or a total lack of sweating in the most severe cases)
  • Dizziness and fainting
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Irritability
  • Lack of concentration

The causes of heat stress are generally a combination of environmental factors and physical exertion – highly likely to occur when workers are performing heavy labour on a hot day.

There are several actions which need to be taken together to prevent heat stress:

  • Workers should hydrate throughout their shift.
  • If it is possible to work in the shade, that is preferable. If not, frequent breaks are necessary to allow workers to find shady spots and cool down for a moment before continuing with their duties.
  • Wherever possible, work schedules should be adjusted to minimize exposure.
  • A proper PPE strategy should be devised to help keep workers cool and protected, regardless of the temperature and humidity in which they must work.

What PPE Do You Need to Prevent Heat Stress?

When it comes to PPE, cool and lightweight are the keywords. If your team is scheduled to spend lengthy periods working in high temperatures and humidity, make sure they have lightweight, loose-fitting, light-coloured garments made of breathable fabrics. Hats, sunglasses and sunblock are essential. You may even want to consider cooling vests and damp towels to ensure that everyone’s body temperature is kept low.

If helmets are necessary, as they are on construction sites and other work areas where there is a high risk of head injuries, this headwear should be ventilated so that air can circulate freely.

During rest periods, it is advisable to remove PPE items such as hats and helmets so that workers have an opportunity to cool down.

Trust CHARNAUD®’s PPE To Prevent Heat Stress

CHARNAUD® supplies PPE that is suitable for all kinds of work environments. Most of our PPE lines are designed for use in hot environments, made from breathable fabrics and engineered to support the body’s natural temperature regulation functions. If you are looking for complete protection for your team, whether you operate in the fire-fighting, electrical, metalwork, or cold storage industries, among others, feel free to browse through CHARNAUD®’s product lines, or contact us for advice. We are sure to have the right protective workwear to protect your team against heat stress, among other occupational hazards.

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