In a perfect world, we could all work in weather-controlled environments where heat wouldn’t be a factor and comfort could be maximized. Many workplaces, however, deal with very high temperatures, and heat stress is a year-round risk that requires serious consideration. For many years, the standards addressing the prevention of heat stress-related issues went untouched. Recently, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released an evaluation of the available data on this subject with the goal of setting a new standard. The report contains detailed information to aid employers, managers and workers in managing the occurrence of heat stress.
Unacceptable levels of heat stress are likely to occur in many work environments. As Section 6.3 of the report states, there are generally only four approaches to a solution: modify the work, the work environment, the worker, or the clothing or equipment. These are limited options and become even stricter when considering how regulations curb the ability to modify these factors. The work has to get done no matter the environment, and safety must be maintained.
The most effective and practical approaches to prevent heat stress are to acclimatize workers or to modify their workwear. It’s important to prepare your workers to stay hydrated and to monitor their health, and the NIOSH report details many ways in which workers can prepare their bodies for the job. The larger issues arise when it is necessary to wear additional protection such as arc-rated flame-resistant garments. Added protections to the fabric decrease the rate of heat exchange significantly, so it may be necessary to modify your workers’ PPE.
Section 6.3 of the NIOSH report also covers several options for auxiliary cooling. When worn and managed correctly, these systems can be effective in preventing heat stress, but each requires some alteration to the work or work environment. Therefore, it may be better to ensure the PPE itself is optimized for both cooling and protecting workers.
Specifying the right workwear to combat heat stress can be challenging. Different environments and facilities require varying standards to be met for protecting workers from the specific hazards to which they may be exposed, and a compounding issue when considering worker protection is compliance. Heat stress is the single largest issue facing safety managers when combating worker compliance. If the garments are too heavy, uncomfortable, too hot or don’t cool well enough, workers are far less likely to wear them compliantly. This increases the risk of danger and can be an unpredictable factor in the work environment. It is essential to ensure specified workwear offers the right balance of protection and breathability so compliance can be achieved. There may be a number of choices on the market to consider, and one way to guarantee the right garments are specified is through a wear trial.
If a wear trial is not practical for your facility, there are several factors you can specify with your workwear in addition to the protective criteria. First, ensure the garments are lightweight. Any additional ounce in the fabric will amplify heat when the body is working overtime to cool itself. Next, consider the fabric’s breathability. Body cooling occurs primarily through sweating. According to NIOSH research, at certain levels sweating transitions from being a useful cooling mechanism to wasted hydration. One indication of this transition is when sweat begins to drip. To continually cool the body, sweat needs to be carried away from the skin. Breathable garments that allow moisture to wick away from the skin are therefore the ideal choice.
Wearing PPE is essential in many work environments. PPE that is too heavy, lacks breathability or traps moisture against the skin can increase the risk of heat stress. In addition to health risks, maximum work output will likely be affected, particularly if the workwear interferes with heat elimination. Therefore, it is essential to specify lightweight, breathable garments that maintain safety regulations for worker protection. With the right workwear specified, you can ensure your workers will wear it compliantly and remain safe and cool even in the most extreme heat conditions.
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