Title: Occupational heat stress - Wikipedia
Headings: Occupational heat stress
Occupational heat stress
Contents
Risk factors
Acclimatization
Examples of high risk occupations
Symptoms of heat stress
Heat exhaustion
Heat stroke
Measurement and monitoring
Measurements
Monitoring
Prevention
Engineering controls
Work practices
Training
Acclimatization schedules
Occupational standards
International
United States
NIOSH recommended standard
Control of heat stress
General Requirements
Heat Alert Program
See also
External links
References

Content: Workers exposed to high temperatures, humidity, and limited air movement, especially outside workers, are vulnerable to heat illness. Physiologic factors can also impact a worker's vulnerability, specifically if their job requires physical exertion, which produces metabolic heat. Workers can also be more vulnerable to heat illness if they are dehydrated from sweating and not drinking enough water or have a low level of physical fitness. Certain medications can also make it more difficult for someone to adapt to high temperatures, such as some common antibiotics, as well as some diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric medications. Workers who have cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, or obesity, or who are currently pregnant, are also at higher risk for heat illness. Additionally, wearing heavy or thick personal protective equipment and clothing can prevent workers from sweating properly, which prevents the body from effectively cooling. Workers can also adjust to working in high temperatures so their bodies can become better at cooling over time, though this adjustment requires a multi-week acclimatization process. Acclimatization
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), acclimatization is a biological process that an individual will go through to adjust to a stimulus following continued exposure. Physiologically, acclimatization to heat will allow a worker’s body to more efficiently cool itself when exposed to high temperatures. When a worker has adjusted to working in a hotter environment, they will have a lower heart rate, earlier onset of sweating, and increased blood flow to blood vessels near the skin, allowing their body to more efficiently cool itself than a worker who is not acclimatized.