Heat stress can cause serious medical injury, impair judgment, increase job stress and lead to low morale. The heat stress program outlined below provides employees with guidelines and recommendations to prevent adverse effects of high heat conditions. Each person should be aware of the adverse effects of high heat conditions, how the medications they may be taking exacerbate the effects, and the importance of proper dietary and physical conditioning. The program, however, cannot take into account all factors contributing to heat stress and should be used only as a guideline. Heat gains to our system from environmental and internal sources are balanced by losses to the environment.
Heat exchange is the composite of four mechanisms in which the body can gain, lose or both.
During the course of the day, the body dissipates approximately as much heat as it produces and absorbs to maintain its steady state temperature. The harder your muscles work, the more internal heat is generated. Generally, this is the most significant contributor to heat stress. The body dissipates this heat by circulation. As blood goes through the muscles, it absorbs heat.