Controlling Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a serious condition caused by the failure of the body’s internal mechanism to regulate its core temperature. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can result in death. During heat stroke, sweating stops and the body is unable to eliminate excessive heat. The heat stroke victim can experience: dry, pale skin (no sweating); hot, red skin (looks like sunburn); mood changes (irritable, confused); seizures/fits; and collapsing/passing out. The following actions may help reduce worker exposure to heat stroke.

Work Environment

Provide general ventilation throughout the work areas.

Provide local exhaust ventilation in areas of high heat.

Provide heat shielding to protect workers from radiant heating.

Provide air conditioning or evaporative cooling in work areas.

Repair and eliminate any steam leaks in the work environment.

Understand that fans do not decrease the temperature; they only move the hot air.

Provide recovery areas, such as air-conditioned rooms.

Work Clothes

Provide ice vests, with internal pockets to hold pre-frozen gel-type packs or ice (ice vest will normally last two to four hours).

Provide localized cooling with specially-designed, air-supplied hoods or helmets.

Provide vest-style garments that employ a battery-powered pump, and a pouch that holds a bag filled with water and crushed ice.

Take into consideration that wearing respirators and special suits to protect against toxic substances can increase the risks of heat-induced illnesses.

Ensure exposed workers wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, where possible.

Provide power tools, rolling carts, and manual material handling equipment to reduce manual labor.

Work Practices

Ensure worker acclimatization by way of gradual exposures to heat – brief periods followed by longer periods of work in the hot environment. Government agencies recommend that new, hot-area workers be exposed to the heat for only 20 percent of their work time the first day, with a 20 percent increase in exposure each additional day.

Consider starting the work earlier in the day when temperatures are generally cooler.

Discourage workers from eating large meals, drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and smoking before working in hot environments.

Ensure workers are provided the opportunity to drink a large amount of fluid.

Provide regular work breaks in a cooler environment.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Welding Hazards

Welding is inherently hazardous to workers. Besides the hazards from noise, electric shock, and fires and explosions, exposure to welding “smoke” (i.e., gases and fumes) can lead to acute or chronic respiratory diseases, such as lung-function impairment, obstructive and restrictive lung disease, cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, asthma, pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, and carcinoma of the lungs. In addition, welding workers suffer from eye irritation, including photokeratitis and cataracts; skin irritation, such as erythema, pterygium, non-melanocytic skin cancer, and malignant melanoma; and infertility due to reduced sperm count and motility.

With proper planning and attention to detail, however, workers can increase their margin of safety. The following safety recommendations during welding operations may help reduce the potential for worker injury.

Preparing to Weld

Before any welding is started, identify the hazards for that particular welding operation. The hazards will depend on the type of welding, the materials used, and the environmental conditions.

Review material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to identify the hazardous materials used in welding and the fumes that may be generated. Substitute less hazardous materials, where feasible.

Use cadmium-free silver solders and asbestos-free electrodes.

Wear gloves and ensure that hoods and ductwork are constructed of fire-resistant materials.

Use shielding to protect people in the work area from the light of the welding arc, as well as from heat and hot spatter.

Ensure welding booths are painted with a dull finish that does not reflect ultraviolet light.

Use acoustic shields between the worker and the noise source to reduce noise levels.

Remove all flammable or combustible materials in the immediate area before striking an arc or lighting a flame.

Ensure that the proper fire extinguishers are readily available.

Make sure that equipment is properly maintained (e.g., replace worn insulation and hoses).

During Welding Operations

Use soapy water, instead of matches, to check for leaks in hoses, fittings, and valves in welding equipment.

Use ventilation to the maximum extent possible. Local exhaust ventilation that removes the fumes and gases at their source is the most effective method. This can be provided by a partial enclosure, such as a ventilated work bench, or by hoods positioned as close to the point of welding as possible.

For gas-shielded arc welding processes, provide local exhaust by means of an extracting gun – this can reduce worker exposure to welding emissions by 70 percent.

Do not weld on painted or coated parts – if possible, remove all surface coatings before welding.

Use a water table under plasma arc cutting to reduce fume and noise levels.

Use the sub-arc process to minimize light and fumes created by a visible arc.

Position your body while welding or cutting so that your head is not in the fumes.

Minimize welding fumes by using the lowest acceptable amperage and holding the electrode perpendicular and as close to the work surface as possible.

Do not perform arc welding within 200 ft (61.0 m) of degreasing equipment or solvents.

Ensure materials that have been recently welded are marked “HOT” to avoid burns.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.