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Haight Road Tank Removal NOA Project Number: E07174A January 2008 Transient Heat Fatigue i 10 Transient heat fatigue refers to the temporary state of discomfort and mental or psychological strain arising from prolonged heat exposure. Workers unaccustomed to the heat are particularly susceptible and can suffer, to varying degrees, a decline in task performance, coordination, alertness, and vigilance. The severity of transient heat fatigue can be lessened by a period of gradual adjustment to the hot environment (heat acclimatization). 6.2.3 Preparing for Work in the Heat One of the best ways to reduce the heat stress in workers is to minimize the heat in the workplace. However, heat production is difficult to control in some environments, such as outdoors where exposure to various weather conditions is likely and when wearing personal protective clothing. Humans, to a large extent, can acclimate to the heat. Adjusting to heat under normal circumstances usually takes five to seven days, during which time the body will undergo a series of changes that will make continued exposure to heat more endurable. Gradual exposure to heat gives the body time to become accustomed to higher environmental temperatures. Heat stress is more likely to occur among workers who have not been given time to adjust to working in the heat, among workers who have been away from hot environments, or among workers who have never been exposed to hot environments. Hot weather in the summer is likely to affect the worker who is not acclimatized to heat. Likewise, workers who return to work after a leisurely vacation or extended illness can be affected by the heat in the work environment. Under such circumstances, the worker should be allowed to gradually reacclimatize. Beat stress also depends, in part, on the amount of heat the worker's body produces while doing a job. The amount of heat produced during hard, steady work is much higher than that produced during intermittent or light work. Ways of reducing the potential for heat stress are to make the job less strenuous, lessen its duration, or provide adequate or longer breaks. Number and Duration of Exposures Rather than be exposed to heat for extended periods of time during the course of a job, workers should, wherever possible, be permitted to distribute the work load evenly over the day and incorporate work -rest cycles. Work -rest cycles give the body an opportunity to get rid of excess heat, slow down the production of internal body heat, and provide greater blood flow to the skin.