Heat Stress Training – [Complete Video Kit]

Heat stress is not only an important topic for OSHA training, but it’s also an important concept to teach your employees to keep them safe on the job. This heat stress training video will teach your employees how to identify heat-related illness before it happens and what to do in case they overheat.

What is Covered in this Heat Stress Training Course:

• What is “heat stress,” and how is it defined?
• What are the factors that can lead our bodies to become overheated? (the hot or humid weather, strenuous work, etc.)
• What happens to our bodies when our temperatures rise? (our bodies direct more blood flow to the surface of the skin, and it acts much like the radiator in our cars, circulating heat out of the body)
• How much can our bodies sweat in a given hour? (Up to one quart of water and electrolytes per hour. Obviously, this affects our body’s ability to fight heat exhaustion and prevent heat-related illnesses)
• How much liquid should your employees be drinking as the temperatures rise? (employees should try to drink 5 to 7 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes to prevent dehydration)
• What are the drinks to avoid while trying to cool your body down? (Caffeine or alcoholic drinks should be avoided because they will work to dehydrate your body in addition to the heat)
• Should we eat differently when trying to protect ourselves again heat stress? (yes, hot meals raise your body temperature, and heavy foods require more blood flow to be used for digestion which could be used to help cool you off)
• What are some of the possible heat-related illnesses? (heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all discussed)
• What is heat illness, and how can it be avoided?
• What types of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE can be used to prevent heat stress?
• What might cause a person to faint when they overheat? (the bodies increased blood flow can cause a person to feel faint or lightheaded)
• How to recognize the symptoms of heat stress and what to do about it? (When we sweat a lot and fail to replace the fluids and electrolytes, we can experience heat cramps.  Symptoms include painful cramping as well as involuntary jerking or muscle spasms, often in the calf, thigh, or shoulder). Heat stress training is critical to help employees recognize symptoms of heat stress and take action to prevent problems.

More Topics Covered In This Heat Stress Training:

• What is heat stroke, and what steps can an employee take to avoid it?
• How can an employee monitor heat stress levels?
• How can we best protect ourselves on the job from and prevent heat illness?
• How can we speed up the cooling process when our body becomes overheated? (apply cold compresses to the armpits and body, wet down clothing, use ice or cold packs, etc.)
• What actions should we take if a co-worker is showing signs of heat stroke? (get the person out of the sun and into a cooler environment, have them sit down and rest, cool them off by using a wet towel on their face and neck, and give them water to drink or sports drinks to help replace lost electrolytes)
• How does the color of our clothing affect our body’s ability to handle heat? (black or other dark colors absorb heat, you should wear light-colored clothing)
• What other items can help protect us from heat illness and sun exposure? (wear sunscreen, wear proper clothing, wear sunglasses, etc.). Also, it seems obvious, but air conditioning and fans can help cool a hot area as well and employees should be reminded of this during times of extreme heat.
• What is a heat rash, and how does it relate to excessive heat stress?
• and much more…

Providing your employees heat stress training is not only a vital OSHA training piece, it is also important to reduce your potential for on-the-job heat-related accidents or injuries. This OSHA heat stress course will teach your employees the important concepts they need to know to keep heat issues in check. This heat stress training video is available as either an English or Spanish-speaking DVD or USB Stick, and is 14 minutes in length.

Heat Stress Training Video – Full Length Preview: