What methods can be used to reduce heat stress among furnace workers?

From the Guidelines

To reduce heat stress among furnace workers, employers should implement a comprehensive heat management program that includes engineering controls, administrative measures, and personal protective equipment, prioritizing measures that reduce heat exposure, enhance the body's cooling mechanisms, and prevent dehydration, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1.

Key Components of a Heat Management Program

• Engineering controls: installing local exhaust ventilation, heat shields, cooling fans, and air conditioning in rest areas to reduce ambient temperatures
• Administrative measures: scheduling work during cooler parts of the day, implementing mandatory rest breaks in cool areas, rotating workers between hot and cool tasks, and gradually acclimating new workers to hot environments over 7-14 days
• Personal protective equipment: providing cooling vests, moisture-wicking clothing, and heat-reflective garments to reduce heat retention
• Regular health monitoring: checking vital signs and body weight before and after shifts to identify early signs of heat-related illness
• Training: educating workers to recognize symptoms of heat stress, such as dizziness, excessive sweating, headache, nausea, and confusion, to prevent progression to more serious conditions like heat stroke

Additional Measures

• Providing unlimited access to cool drinking water and encouraging workers to consume 1 cup (8 oz) every 15-20 minutes while working in hot conditions, as suggested by guidelines for managing heat stress in other contexts 1
• Implementing active cooling measures, such as whole-body cool- to cold-water immersion, commercial ice packs, cold showers, ice sheets and towels, cooling vests and jackets, and evaporative, fanning, or a combination of techniques, in case of heatstroke, as recommended by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1 By prioritizing these measures, employers can effectively reduce heat stress among furnace workers, minimizing the risk of heat-related illnesses and improving overall health and well-being.

From the Research

Methods to Reduce Heat Stress

To reduce heat stress among furnace workers, several methods can be employed:

• Using a heat absorbing system in the furnace body to decrease radiant heat 2
• Installing reflective aluminum barriers in the main workstation to reduce radiant heat 2
• Implementing work-rest cycles to mitigate physiological heat strain 3
• Providing ventilated clothing to reduce heat strain 3
• Encouraging hydration to prevent dehydration 3, 4
• Empowering laborers to self-pace their work 3
• Increasing mechanization to enhance labor productivity without increasing workers' physiological strain 3

Individual Variability Consideration

It is essential to consider individual variability in physiological tolerance to heat stress, including factors such as age, sex, disease, medication use, and fitness level 5

Heat-Related Illness Prevention

Prevention of heat-related illnesses can be achieved through:

• Acclimatization to the hot environment 6
• Adequate hydration 6, 3, 4
• Avoidance of activities during extreme heat 6
• Increasing public awareness of the risks associated with exposure to high temperatures and prolonged exercise 4