With the province experiencing extreme heat, there is a potential hazard for workers who work in dangerous heat levels. The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to assess hazards and take all reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of workers.
Understanding the health risks involved with working in extreme temperatures can help employers protect their workers. While this information is most relevant to outdoor workers, it may also help workers in hot indoor environments.
"Alberta summers can present safety risks for those working outdoors or in hot environments. It is crucial that employers and workers collaborate to minimize heat-related risks. It is our goal that every worker returns home safely after each and every work day.”
Employers and workers should be aware of the early signs of heat stress and treat it immediately. Signs include:
- irritability
- headache
- dizziness and fatigue
- heavy sweating
- dehydration (may include a reduced ability to sweat)
- muscle cramps
- heat rash
These symptoms can progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.
What employers can do:
- Provide plenty of cool drinking water.
- Reduce physical activity demands on workers, change the work location to a cooler, shaded area and create a cooling station where workers can rest.
- Use a work/rest schedule with extra breaks if needed.
- Allow workers to acclimatize by gradually increasing the time spent working outdoors or in other hot environments.
- Schedule physically demanding jobs for cooler times of the day.
- Start the work day earlier when it’s cooler and end the work day before the heat hits its peak.
- Train and educate workers to recognize signs of heat stress.
What workers can do:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Wear suitable clothing for the heat in combination with any needed personal protective equipment.
- Alert their supervisor or employer if they’re feeling heat stress symptoms.
- Work at a pace that does not produce heat stress symptoms.
Susceptibility to heat-related injury or illness varies from person to person. Factors such as age, medical conditions, general health and fitness level and whether a worker is acclimatized to heat can make people more or less susceptible to feeling extreme heat.
Related information
- Working in extreme temperatures (available in seven languages)
- Working in extreme heat infographic
- Working in summer