5 WAYS TO PREVENT HEAT STRESS AT WORK

< < < < < <   THIS WAY TO BLOGS AND HELP CENTRE

How hot is your workplace? In some industries and settings - professional kitchens and bakeries, smelting works, foundries and others - excessive heat is a year-round problem. In others, it's only really an issue during the summer months, when the outdoor temperature can increase and businesses don't have adequate measures in place to keep the heat at bay. For some people, an excessively hot workplace can lead to heat stress.

Essentially, this is when the body's mechanisms for controlling its temperature start to fail, causing the core body temperature to rise. The longer someone works in these conditions, the more serious the symptoms of heat stress can be, which is why it's so important to stay cool at work. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, severe thirst/dehydration, muscle cramps, an inability to concentrate, heat rash and fainting.

In more severe cases, heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion, the symptoms of which are moist skin, nausea, giddiness, fatigue and headaches. If it continues further, heatstroke can be an issue: confusion, skin which feels dry and hot, convulsions and loss of consciousness - and even death if not spotted and treated early. With all this in mind, it's easy to see why keeping cool at work is so important.

If you're looking for the best way to keep cool at work, take a look at our top five ways to avoid heat stress in the workplace.

	1. KEEP YOUR FLUID LEVELS UP It may go without saying, but adequate hydration is vital when you're looking to avoid heat stress at work. When you're working in a hot environment, your body needs more water to replace the water it loses through sweating - and if this water isn't replaced, heat stress is far more likely. If your workplace doesn't already provide cool drinking water, see if it's something that can be offered, or bring your own. Drink it at regular intervals when you can - before, during and after work.
	2. OPT FOR COOLING WORKWEAR Your choice of workwear for hot weather can have a huge impact on keeping you cool at work. You may be restricted in what you're allowed to wear, but don't forget that there's plenty of personal protective equipment and other workwear out there that can keep the heat down. Choose clothing that's made with breathable fabrics where possible, and consider garments that feature a personal cooling system. The Portwest cooling range, which includes cooling neck scarves, headwear, vests, sleeves and more, uses special cooling technology to keep the temperature down. Simply soak the garment in water to activate, wring out the excess and wear to keep you cool without getting the rest of your clothes wet.
	3. REGULATE EXPOSURE TO HOTTER ENVIRONMENTS Sometimes, working in hot temperatures can't be avoided - it's an integral part of the job. What businesses can do, though, is to regulate the amount of time for which workers are exposed to these high temperatures. This might involve using machines to take on work at hotter times, or maybe setting a temperature limit in certain areas, with workers not allowed to enter if the temperature reaches a certain level. Extra break periods could be given to those who work in the hottest places - in areas that have the conditions required to recover fully.
	4. CHOOSE WORKWEAR WITH UV PROTECTION If you're working outdoors, the sun can have a significant impact on your heat levels on hotter days - even when it doesn't seem that strong. Obviously, we dont need to tell you to apply sun cream, but have you considered choosing workwear with UV protection built-in? UPF protective clothing is designed to stop UV radiation from reaching your skin, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays. It'll not only keep you better protected from heat stress, but it'll also help you to avoid sunburn and other conditions relating to sun exposure, like sunspots, premature wrinkles, and cancer. Be sure to look for UV workwear that will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays, and check the level of UPF protection that the garment provides. As a guide, UPF 15-20 gives good protection, but if you want something stronger, go for a rating of 25-35. For the highest possible level of protection, go for 40-50 or more instead. The UV workwear you go for is your choice - you'll find everything from hi vis vests to work shorts and more.
	5. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HEAT STRESS Of course, prevention of heat stress is better than cure, but it's important that everyone working in a hot environment - whether regularly or less often - knows what heat stress is, its causes, how to protect yourself, its symptoms, and what to do when it happens. It's especially important that younger and newer workers know all of this - with less exposure to hot environments than more seasoned workers, heat stress could prove to be more of an issue. If your company hasn't already done a risk assessment to work out which workers are most at risk of heat stress - like those with existing heart problems or those who are pregnant - then this should be done as soon as possible. It's something that should continue to be reviewed as both the working environment and the workers on site change, to reduce the risk of heat stress or heat stroke happening in the first place, and to be able to deal with it as soon as possible if it does. Put the right steps in place to prevent heat stress in the workplace, and it'll be a happier, healthier and hopefully cooler place to work! If you're looking for workwear that can minimise the likelihood of heat stress being an issue in your workplace, take a look at the range we have on offer at Total Workwear.

S U M M A R Y

The trick is to take that little bit of extra time to ensure you are looking after yourself properly in the heat. 
Try to work with your employer to find a solution that works for everyone during your working day. 
Stay hydrated, have regular breaks, dress approriately and speak up if you're struggling due to the heat.
to view our full range of cooling workwear.

MORE BLOGS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU 5 WAYS TO PREVENT HEAT STRESS AT WORK TOP 3 COOLING PRODUCTS FOR SUMMER HOW BRANDED WORKWEAR CAN BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

< < < < < <   THIS WAY TO BLOGS AND HELP CENTRE