Humans maintain a core temperature of around 37oC. If someone works in a particularly hot environment, stress can occur which leads to injury. Heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. As well as air temperature, factors such as work rate, humidity and clothing worn while working may lead to heat stress.
Typical symptoms of heat stress include:
- Inability to concentrate
- Muscle cramps
- Heat rash
- Severe thirst – a late symptom of heat stress
- Fainting
- Heat exhaustion – fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin
- Heat stroke – hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage.
Regulations require employers to monitor the warmth in their workplace to make sure it is at a reasonable temperature. The Approved Code of Practice recommends reasonable temperatures in workrooms to be at least 16°C unless much of the work involves severe physical effort, in which case the temperature should be at least 13°C.
How we can help
Our specialist occupational hygiene consultants can carry out a heat survey to make sure your workplace is complying with regulations and offer guidance on how to keep your employees safe from heat related injury, especially if they work in an environment which can get hot.
Contact the team today to find out more about heat stress studies.
Testimonials
Newbridge Energy
EEUK have been consummate professionals from the outset. They are always keen to help and quick to offer advice on all queries. We have used EEUK for LEV servicing, Fire Risk assessments and DSEAR risk assessments. Their support team are very helpful, and this is reflected in their onsite services. I can whole heartedly recommend their services to anyone looking for a reliable, professional and friendly company.
Graduate Health and Safety Engineer
Howard Butler Ltd
Howard Butler Ltd have, for a number of years, been a very satisfied customer of EEUK. There has been ongoing excellent support over this time and the staff have always been supportive and knowledgeable. In addition to this (always cheerful) support, the test reports are professional and easy to navigate. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to any of our customers.
Quality Manager
Arville
We have been using EEUK since 2017; they have provided us with not only a monitoring service but guidance on what we are required to do as a company. The sales team were really friendly and very efficient with arranging (sometimes at short notice) dates in which to provide their services.
Group Head of Health & Safety
Quality Assured
Directory of Occupational Hygiene Services
We are members of the BOHS Directory of Occupational Hygiene Services which is the guide for anyone seeking specialist occupational hygiene services.
Accredited within the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS)
EEUK is CHAS accredited. This means we ensure compliance across the different areas of risk management and mitigate risks across the supply chain.
Cyber Essentials
Being Cyber Essentials accredited helps us to guard against the most common cyber threats and demonstrates our commitment to cyber security.
ISO9001 Quality Management
We are ISO 9001 certified which means we are recognised as a company with a strong customer focus, a motivated top management team and processes in place with the aim to continually improve.
ISO14001 – Environmental Management
The ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and provides guidance on how our business impacts the environment.
SafeContractor
We are SafeContractor approved, which means we comply with health and safety legislation – it is recognised as the leading health and safety accreditation by 33,000 contractors in the country.
JOSCAR Registration Mark
The JOSCAR Registration Mark is valued by some of the largest purchasers in the defence community and indicates that we have gone through the process required to demonstrate our commitment and credentials to the industry.
We’re ISO 45001 certified.
ISO 45001 is an international standard for health and safety at work developed by national and international standards committees independent of government.
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