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f <br /> Neil O.Anderson&Associates HASP Page 10 of 21 <br /> March 18, 2014 <br /> ' heat in the work environment. Under such circumstances, the worker should be allowed to <br /> gradually reacclimatize. <br /> ' Heat stress also depends, in part, on the amount of heat the worker's body produces while <br /> doing a job. The amount of heat produced during hard, steady work is much higher than that <br /> produced during intermittent or light work. Ways of reducing the potential for heat stress are <br /> to make the job less strenuous, lessen its duration, or provide adequate or longer breaks. <br /> ' Number and Duration of Exposures <br /> Rather than be exposed to heat for extended periods of time during the course of a job, <br /> workers should, wherever possible, be permitted to distribute the work load evenly over the day <br /> and incorporate work-rest cycles. Work-rest cycles give the body an opportunity to get rid of <br /> ' excess heat, slow down the production of internal body heat, and provide greater blood flow to <br /> the skin. <br /> ' Workers employed outdoors are especially subject to weather changes. A hot spell or rising <br /> humidity can create overly stressful conditions. <br /> ' Scheduling/Wol-k Rotation <br /> When possible, do the most demanding tasks in cooler parts of the day, morning, and evening. <br /> Also, begin work shifts earlier in the day, or start later in the afternoon. Labor-intensive tasks <br /> may be spread out over a greater number of days. Use less intensive tasks to fill in the rest of <br /> the day. <br /> Rest Areas <br /> Providing cool rest areas in hot work environments considerably reduces the stress of working <br /> there. Shaded areas should be as close to the work area as possible. Individual work periods <br /> should not be lengthened in favor of prolonged rest periods. Shorter but frequent work-rest <br /> cycles benefit the worker most. <br /> Drinking Water <br /> ' In the course of a day a worker may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat. Because so <br /> many heat disorders involve excessive dehydration of the body, it is essential that water intake <br /> be about equal to the amount of sweat produced. Most workers exposed to hot conditions <br /> ' drink less fluids than needed due to an insufficient thirst drive. Therefore, a worker should not <br /> depend on thirst to signal when and how much to drink. Instead, the worker should drink one <br /> cup of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes. There is no optimum temperature of drinking water, but <br /> most people tend not to drink warm or very cold fluids as readily as they will cool ones. <br /> ' Whatever the temperature, the water must be palatable and readily available. Individual <br /> drinking cups should be provided — never use a common drinking cup. <br /> ' Heat acclimatized workers lose much less salt in their sweat than do workers who are not <br /> adjusted. The average American diet contains sufficient salt for acclimatized workers even <br /> Ll902 Industrial Way•Lodi,CA 95240-209.367.3701•Fax 209.333.8303 02014 Neil O.Anderson&Associates,Inc. <br />