May 22, 2024
Free resources to help you prevent and deal with heat-related illness
Heat stress poses a particularly serious threat to those working outdoors — affecting thousands of workers across Canada every year. The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) is offering a free heat stress toolkit that includes many resources available to employers and their staff to understand and prevent this serious illness.
Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to get rid of excess heat, causing the body’s heart rate and core body temperature to increase and often leads to heat-related illness. Resources in the toolkit include a heat stress calculator, heat response plan, reference guides, videos, posters and infographics. The resources are intended to help show you and your staff the warning signs, symptoms, risk and effects associated with this serious illness and many of the resources are available in French and Spanish, in addition to English.
Visit ohcow.on.ca/heat-stress-toolkit for a number of resources that were developed to promote the dangers of working in heat, and to guide you in creation of your own heat stress emergency response plan.
Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to get rid of excess heat, causing the body’s heart rate and core body temperature to increase and often leads to heat-related illness. Resources in the toolkit include a heat stress calculator, heat response plan, reference guides, videos, posters and infographics. The resources are intended to help show you and your staff the warning signs, symptoms, risk and effects associated with this serious illness and many of the resources are available in French and Spanish, in addition to English.
Protect yourself and others
Employers have a responsibility to protect their outdoor workers. OHCOW provides some tips for protection:- Fuel up: Drink at least one cup of water every 15-20 minutes and snack healthy often.
- Dress light: Wear loose-fitting, moisture wicking, UV protective clothing.
- Rest often: Seek shade or a cooler location.
- Protect head and eyes: Wear a wide-brimmed hat and UV sunglasses.
- Monitor heat: Adjust your work schedule according to temperatures and weather forecast.
- Buddy up: Watch co-workers for signs of heat stress. These include: heat rash, fainting, head cramps, high blood pressure, convulsions, seizures and rapid, shallow breathing.
Visit ohcow.on.ca/heat-stress-toolkit for a number of resources that were developed to promote the dangers of working in heat, and to guide you in creation of your own heat stress emergency response plan.