Heat Stress: Risk Factors

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Workers should be aware of the many factors that can impact the risk of heat illness. Environment: 1. High temperatures, especially with high humidity, which makes sweating less effective. 2. Direct sun exposure. 3. Lack of wind or breeze to cool the body; however, when ambient conditions are higher than body temperature, warm airflow can actually increase heat gain. 4. Proximity to engines or other hot equipment. Activities: 1. High exertion. 2. Not enough rest breaks. 3. Repeated strenuous days in the heat. 4. High motivation to push through discomfort from heat strain. No Acclimatization: 1. New employees. 2. Experienced employees returning from time away from the heat. 3. Acclimatized workers who experience a sudden change in worksite temperature, such as heat waves or mining in a new area. Medications: Heat tolerance can be affected by medications taken for - 1. cold, allergies, and congestion. 2. muscle spasms. 3. blood pressure. 4. urine production (diuretics). 5. high blood pressure. 6. diarrhea. 7. dizziness/vertigo. 8. psychosis. 9. depression. Dehydration: One of the most important risk factors. Prior Heat Illness: Increases the risk of heat illness in the future. Health Conditions: 1. Short-term illnesses, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or respiratory infections. 2. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. 3. Being overweight or obese. 4. Poor physical fitness. Other Factors: 1. Age over 60. 2. Non-breathable clothing or personal protective equipment. 3. Alcohol use in the past 24 hours.
  
  NIOSH no. 20049652
  
  
• Subjects:
  Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Pages in Document:
  2 unnumbered pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049652
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e877d9e1e2a162f0e421c0441635e0b3f7cf0632a56aced33f291fc38b39f5db422c594dbfd24243a57f069ec2d141c52f29b09764680dc423d05b4890961d99
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/45852/cdc_45852_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.34 MB ]