TYPES OF
HEAT ILLNESS
HEAT ILLNESS
This milder heat illness involves heavy sweating, weakness, and cool, clammy skin, usually with a temperature below 104°F.
Heat Exhaustion
Dizziness, headache, and feeling very tired but still sweating heavily are signs of this heat illness.
Heat Exhaustion
Risk of heat illness is highest in this combination of temperature and humidity.
Hot and humid weather.
OSHA’s simple slogan for heat safety is “Water. Rest. And this.”
Shade
If you suspect heat stroke, you should first move the worker to this type of location.
A cool or shaded area.
This is the most serious heat illness; symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, and a very high body temperature.
Heat Stroke
Confusion, slurred speech, or seizures in hot conditions are a sign of this medical emergency.
Heat Stroke
Doing heavy physical labor in the heat does this to the heat load on your body.
It increases heat stress.
In very hot conditions, workers should drink small amounts of water frequently, aiming for up to about this much per hour.
About 1 quart (roughly 4 cups) per hour.
For serious heat illness, you should call this number immediately if the worker is confused or unconscious.
911 or local emergency services.
Painful muscle spasms in the legs or abdomen during or after hard work in the heat.
Heat Cramps
A worker suddenly stops sweating, feels hot and dry, and acts strangely. What has likely happened?
They are experiencing heat stroke.
Wearing rain gear, chemical suits, or other non‑breathable PPE does this to your risk of heat illness.
It increases the risk by trapping heat and sweat.
Short breaks in a shaded or cooled area help the body by doing this.
Lowering/cooling the body’s core temperature.
Removing excess clothing and applying cool, wet cloths or ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin are steps in doing this.
Actively cooling a worker with heat stroke/serious heat illness.
Fainting or near‑fainting caused by standing too long or quickly standing up in the heat.
Heat Syncope (heat fainting)
Nausea, vomiting, and a pounding heart can appear with serious heat illness. Name one condition they may indicate.
Heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
New hires or workers returning after more than a week off are at higher risk because they have not gone through this process.
Acclimatization
Gradually increasing time working in the heat over 1–2 weeks to let the body adjust is called this.
A heat acclimatization program.
Employers must make sure cool drinking water, rest breaks, and shade are available in hot conditions. This is part of their overall what?
Heat Illness Prevention Program (or heat safety program).
This term refers to the overall burden of heat on the body from environment, work, and clothing.
Heat Stress
Before more obvious symptoms appear, workers may feel unusually irritable, confused, or “not themselves” in the heat. What are these called?
Early warning signs of heat stroke/serious heat illness (behavior or mental status changes).
Name two personal risk factors (besides weather) that can increase a worker’s chance of heat illness.
Any two of: dehydration, poor physical fitness, certain medications, recent illness, alcohol use, lack of sleep.
Name two work practice changes supervisors can use on very hot days to reduce heat risk.
Any two of: schedule heavy work earlier/later, add extra rest breaks, rotate workers, shorten shifts, move tasks to shade or indoors.
Name one key responsibility of supervisors and one of workers in a heat illness prevention program.
Supervisors: monitor weather, ensure water/rest/shade, watch workers, respond to symptoms.
Workers: drink water, take shade breaks, report symptoms early, follow procedures.