Temperature has a great impact on safety and comfort at the workplace. Safety issues occur when there are hot and cold extremes.
Hot environments can cause heat stress, which can result in a severe illness called heat exhaustion.
Cold environments can chill the body or cause hypothermia. Both extremes can occur indoors and outdoors depending on the industrial process or the outdoor weather. It is the responsibility of the employer, contractor or owner to provide thermal conditions appropriate to the work, protect the health and safety of the worker, and provide reasonable thermal comfort for workers. The employer, contractor or owner must provide monitoring equipment upon request. In unusual conditions such as cold or excessive heat, the employer, contractor or owner must take extra steps to ensure the safety and comfort of the workers.