Outdoor Heat Exposure
Outdoor Heat Hazard
Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heat-related illnesses, from less serious heat rash and heat cramps to more serious heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention because it can result in serious health effects or death, therefore it is very important that you take precautions while working in the summer heat.
Remember:
- For people working in hot environments, both air temperature and humidity affect how hot you feel. The higher the heat and humidity, the hotter the weather feels, because sweat is unable to readily evaporate. If the sweat your body produces cannot evaporate, your body cannot easily cool down, and you may be at risk for a heat illness.
- Certain factors, including personal health conditions, activities being conducted, and weather can increase the risk of a heat-related illness.
- Heat exhaustion can also make workers more susceptible to falls, equipment-related injuries, and other on-the-job safety hazards.
University units with personnel who work outdoors must plan, prepare, and train for heat-related illness
A hot weather plan should be ready to use between May 1 and September 30 of each year.
Consider using the plan when:
- The humidex on-site reaches or exceeds 35
- Environment Canada reports air temperature that exceeds 30°C and a humidex of 40
- Heat waves of 32ºC or more are predicted for three or more days.
Heat-related illness and first aid
Heat stroke
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| – High body temperature (103°F or higher) – Hot, red, dry, or damp skin – Fast, strong pulse – Headache – Dizziness – Nausea – Confusion – Losing consciousness (passing out) | – Call 613-520-4444 right away – heat stroke is a medical emergency – Move the person to a cooler place – Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath – Do not give the person anything to drink |
Heat exhaustion
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| – Heavy sweating – Cold, pale, and clammy skin – Fast, weak pulse – Nausea or vomiting – Muscle cramps – Tiredness or weakness – Dizziness – Headache – Fainting (passing out) | – Move to a cool place – Loosen your clothes – Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath – Sip water Get medical help right away if: – You are throwing up – Your symptoms get worse – Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour |
Heat cramps
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| – Heavy sweating during intense exercise – Muscle pain or spasms | – Stop physical activity and move to a cool place – Drink water or a sports drink – Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity Get medical help right away if: – Cramps last longer than 1 hour– You’re on a low-sodium diet – You have heart problems |
Sunburn
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| – Painful, red, and warm skin – Blisters on the skin | – Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals – Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath – Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas – Do not break blisters |
Heat rash
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| – Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases) | – Stay in a cool, dry place – Keep the rash dry – Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash |
Heat Stroke is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY. A person experiencing heat stroke will have decreased sweating and urination, hot, flushed, and dry skin, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, increased body temperature, confusion, seizure, or loss of consciousness. A person experiencing heat stroke may not recognize these symptoms in themselves so it is important to look out for each other while working in hot conditions. If on campus, call Campus Safety at 613-520-4444 for emergency medical response. If off-campus, call 911.
Resources
Infographics – Heat Illness Prevention
More information
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) – Hot Environments