OHS practices - Hazards
Temperature
Exposure to excessive high or low temperatures can affect the body.
Cold
Lowering body temperature (hypothermia) affects the brain, causing erratic behaviour, cramps and numbness. Localised effects are frostbite and chilblains. In the long-term results include arthritis, rheumatism, chest and heart disease.
Prevention and control include:
- provision of hot drinks
- acclimatisation for new employees and those returning from leave
- regular rest periods
- environmental monitoring
- medical monitoring.
Heat
Short-term effects of excess heat on the body include:
- reduction of concentration leading to risk of accidents
- aggravation of other hazards, eg the effects of some chemicals is increased by heat
- heat illness
- heat cramps caused by sweating, lowers salt levels in the blood
- heat exhaustion which causes clammy skin, weakness and fatigue, vomiting, headaches and giddiness. It is caused by dehydration
- heat stroke, caused by a breakdown of the body’s heat mechanism.
Long-term effects on the body:
- heat rash (prickly heat)
- chronic heat exhaustion
- possible reproductive problems in women and men, eg possible birth deformities.
Prevention and control include:
- changing or eliminating the process
- insulation
- ventilation
- aAir-conditioning
- isolation
- shielding
- job modification
- work rotation
- protective clothing
- cool rest areas
- reduction in levels of activity
- provision of cold drinks.
