91̽»¨app

It’s that time of year again — when rising temperatures and humidity levels remind us of the importance of staying safe and informed about heat and thermal stress in the workplace. 

Below you will find important information, instructions, and training related to our Safe Work Procedure for managing indoor Thermal/Heat Stress.  

You’ll . It includes guidance on potential hazards, personal protective equipment and devices, and preventative measures. We encourage all staff to review the procedure to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. 

Please note that the Workplace Safety and Health Act or regulations do not specify a maximum temperature above which work must stop (p. 9 of ".") Rather, they suggest a “combination of environmental conditions must be measured and evaluated against a set of exposure limits recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)” to appropriately measure Occupational Heat Exposure through WBGT readings performed by a qualified professional.” This differs from Environment Canada weather reports or temperatures taken from a personal thermometer.   

The current and speak to “thermal stress” and “thermal conditions.” The regulation states the following:  

Thermal stress  

4.12 When a workplace or work process exposes a worker to conditions that may create a risk to the worker’s safety or health because of heat or cold, an employer must implement safe work procedures and control measures to ensure that:   

(a) the threshold limit values for thermal stress established by the ACGIH in its publication, 2019 Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents & Biological Exposure Indices, are followed; and  

(b) the worker is provided with information, instruction and training in the symptoms of thermal stress and the precautions to be taken to avoid injury from thermal stress. M.R. 128/2019 

Thermal conditions — indoor workplaces   

4.13 Subject to subsection 4.12, an employer must establish and maintain thermal conditions, including air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity and air movement, in an indoor workplace that are appropriate to the nature of the work being done.  

The 91̽»¨app’s Safe Work Procedure addressing Thermal/Heat Stress Indoor Instructions is available on the portal. The Safe Work Procedure applying to outdoor work will be added later this week. These procedures review potential hazards, personal protection equipment or devices, and prevention. They also include the engineering controls employed by the Division to address thermal/heat stress indoors.  

Questions or concerns about heat at your worksite?  

Please report these to your site supervisor/principal who will contact the maintenance department to address the engineering controls listed in the Safe Work Procedure. 

The following is taken from Safe Work Manitoba’s “.” Please note that it is focused on work outdoors although the strategies can be employed in indoor work environments.  

The summer season often brings hot temperatures and high humidity. When our bodies are exposed to these conditions, we usually react by sweating, which cools us off and regulates our body temperature. Normal body temperature is between 36°C and 38°C. If your body's temperature rises above normal, it can lead to heat stress, which is the body's inability to control its internal temperature. Symptoms of heat stress include the following:  

• excessive sweating, which causes the body to lose fluid and increases heart rate  
• heat illness: headaches; nausea; vomiting; dizziness  
• heat exhaustion: tired or weak; moist skin; rapid, weak pulse  
• heat stroke: hot, dry skin; rapid, strong pulse; mental confusion; unconsciousness; seizures or convulsions. Heat stroke can result in death.  

Note: Prolonged sun exposure can lead to skin cancer.  

Workers who are exposed to hot weather include construction workers, postal workers, street cleaners, conservation officers, and others.  

• Ways to prevent heat stress  
• Wear light and loose-fitting clothing.  
• Work in workspaces with good ventilation (for indoor work).  
• Drink water when you're thirsty.  
• Take frequent breaks when working in the heat and rotate work tasks to avoid too much exposure to heat.  
• Work indoors instead of outdoors, if possible.  
• Use shades and sunscreen.  

Resources