1. Kent Health and Safety Group 2 nd March 2006 Delphi Diesel Systems Hazards of Working in Hot Conditions. David Wigens

2. 17 years as a health and safety practitioner in: Electronics Pharmaceuticals Waste Consultancy

3. Legal Requirements Employers’ Duties The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 –Safe Systems of Work –Safe Place of Work –The provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is SFARP, safe, without risks to health Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999 –Risk Assessment Identify Hazards Identify who might be at risk

4. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs. 1992 –Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air. Manual Handling Operations Regs. 1992 –make a suitable and sufficient assessment of all such manual handling operations to be undertaken (Schedule 1 Factor 3 – The working environment - extremes of temperature or humidity) Legal Requirements Employers’ Duties

5. No upper temperature limits Basis is Risk Assessment Legal Requirements Employers’ Duties

6. Five Steps to Risk Assessment Risk Assessment

7. Step 1: Identify the hazards Risk Assessment

8. Hazards High Temperature High Humidity High physical demand/work rate Low Air Movement Type of PPE worn Hard Hats RPE e.g. BA, Filtering masks Overalls Confined Space Sun Light (UV) Combinations of above

9. Heat Stress - Health Effects Fatigue Dehydration Hyperthermia –Heat Exhaustion –Heat Stroke/, Core Temp ≥40ºC (Normally 37 ºC ) Classic – summer months Exertional – may continue sweating Central Nervous System dysfunction –Core temp >41.1ºC (hyperpyrexia) brain damage possible Cardio-respiratory failure Organ failure

10. Heat Stress - Symptoms Inability to concentrate Muscle cramps Heat rash Severe thirst - a late symptom Fainting Heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin Heat stroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. Can result in death if not detected and treated at an early stage.

11. Body Responses As core temperature increases, the body response is activated by the hypothalamus –Sweat glands open to allow heat loss by evaporation. (Main mechanism to regulate body temperature).

12. Body Responses Vasodilation – increases blood flow to skin surface to permit heat loss by radiation, convection and some conduction.

13. Body Responses For both sweating and vasodilation responses, the cooling effects are reliant on air movement, air temperature and humidity. If there is a high humidity and/or low air movement, heat loss through sweating (evaporative cooling) can be impaired.

14. Body Responses If the body is unable self cool, then: In these circumstances the body's core temperature will rise, and the individual will become fatigued. If the core temperature is allowed to continue to increase then heat exhaustion and heat stroke can follow. Heat stroke is serious and can lead to death if not treated.

15. Step 2: Identify individuals who may be harmed and how Risk Assessment

16. Hot Work Environments Some Industries/Occupations where hot environments or work may be present Agriculture Armed Forces Bakeries Construction Electronics Fire fighters Foundries Leisure Mines Paper & Board Pharmaceuticals Restaurants Shipping Sport Waste Industry Warehousing

17. Individuals Susceptibility due to: –Medical conditions e.g. heart conditions Respiratory conditions, asthma –Illness –Medication –Pregnancy

18. Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done Risk Assessment

19. Controls Engineering Controls –Reduce temperature of equipment where possible –Insulate sources of heat, pipes ovens etc. –Mechanical Aids Environmental control systems –Ventilation L24 ACOP (WHSWR) Enclosed workplaces should be sufficiently well ventilated so that stale air, and air which is hot or humid because of the processes or equipment in the workplace, is replaced at a reasonable rate. –Air movement, open windows, use of fans. –Air conditioning, (refrigeration, humidity control, air movement, air changes)

20. Controls Separation –Barriers/screens –Thermal refuges (cool rooms) Safe Systems of Work –Rest breaks –Restrict exposure to heat –Control amount of work expected of individual –Rehydration, provide water and encourage to drink before, during (not practical in some circumstances) and after activity PPE –Need to ensure does not introduce other hazards

21. Health Surveillance The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations –Regulation 6: Health Surveillance –“Every employer shall ensure that his employees are provided with such health surveillance as is appropriate having regard to the risks to their health and safety which are identified by the assessment.” ACOP : Health surveillance will be required where the assessment shows the following criteria to apply: there is an identifiable disease or adverse health condition related to the work concerned, e.g. skin cancer; and valid techniques are available to detect indications of the disease or condition, observation and tests; and there is a reasonable likelihood that the disease or condition may occur under the particular conditions of work; and surveillance is likely to further the protection of the health and safety of the employees to be covered.

22. Step 4: Record findings Step 5: Review assessment Risk Assessment

23. References HSG 194, Thermal comfort in the workplace GIS 1, Heat stress in the workplace. What you need to know as an employer INDG 147, Keep you top on – health risks from working in the sun RR337 The effects of thermal environments on the risks associated with manual handling