How to Manage Heat Stress in the Workplace

As summer begins and temperatures start to rise, it's important for business owners to know how to manage heat stress in the workplace. Heat stress can lead to a range of symptoms, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death.

By implementing some simple policies and procedures, businesses can protect employees from the dangers of working in hot conditions and ensure a safe and productive work environment. Below, we outline the key hazards involved and practical controls every site can apply.

What is Heat Stress?

Heat stress occurs when the body cannot regulate its internal temperature. This can be caused by high temperatures, humidity, or physical exertion combined with hot plant, poor airflow, or restrictive clothing. When the body fails to cool itself properly, it starts to shut down.

Symptoms of heat stress include dizziness, nausea, headache, blurred vision, and fainting. In severe cases, unmanaged heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or even death, making early identification of these hazards essential for protecting health across any workplace.

How to Prevent Heat Stress in the Workplace

There are a few simple steps businesses can take to reduce hazardous exposure and prevent heat stress on site:

• Have effective policies and procedures in place to deal with hot conditions at work.
• Provide workers with breaks in a cool area, preferably with air conditioning, every 20 minutes or so.
• Encourage staff to drink plenty of fluids (water is best) throughout the day.
• Make sure employees wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing suited to hot conditions.
• Monitor personnel for signs of heat stress and provide first aid as necessary.
• Inspect plant and equipment regularly, since hot plant surfaces and machinery can add hazardous radiant heat to already hot work areas — see our guide on managing risks of plant in the workplace for further guidance.
• Complete a thorough risk assessment before work begins, and apply the hierarchy of controls to select the most effective measures for your site.

Where plant cannot be relocated away from workers, consider shielding or insulating hot surfaces to lower radiant heat, and always report a hazard promptly if conditions become unsafe.

By taking these precautions, businesses safeguard health and reduce the likelihood of serious harm from heat stress. Check out our heat stress-related documents and keep employees safe this summer:

• Working in Heat Safe Work Method Statement
• Hot Conditions Safety Policy
• Hot Conditions Risk Assessment Form

For a broader look at related workplace dangers, see our article on environmental hazards in the workplace, which covers additional risks beyond heat exposure.

Author - Craig Cruickshank is the HSEQ Manager and Senior Technical Advisor at SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture.

Craig comes from a construction and environmental background, with experience in both private and public sectors, and remains passionate about making health and safety information easy to find and understand for everyone.

Learn more about Craig's work on LinkedIn.

Available for instant download and supplied in fully editable MS Word format for use in your business.

Please note the above information is provided as a comment only and should not be relied on as professional, legal or financial advice.