Staying Healthy While Working in Hot Weather

Exposure to higher temperatures with frequent periods of heat may result in greater heat stress, leading to several types of heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion, as well as increased susceptibility to chemical exposure and fatigue.

Among all, heatstroke is the most serious heat-induced illness and can be fatal. It occurs when the body loses its ability to control its internal temperature. Individuals in this condition require emergency treatment right away. Call your local emergency services number, and in the meantime, move the person to a shady area or indoors immediately.

Heat exhaustion is the next most risky heat-related illness in line; it usually occurs after heavy sweating, where the body loses a great deal of water and salt. Other heat-induced illnesses include heat syncope (fainting), heat cramps, and heat rash. These are also caused by rising temperatures.

To provide a safer working environment, employers should take precautions by, first of all, providing high-quality training for workers to recognize the symptoms of heat stress. They should reserve shady or airy areas for workers to rest, allow frequent opportunities for re-hydration and a reasonable number of short breaks.

Global warming starts when the energy (or heat) from the sun is trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated out into space proportionally. There are four main types of greenhouse gases that are trapping the heat: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.

Human-generated methane, produced largely by animal factory systems, is another one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases. Per unit of mass, methane is 83-84 times more heat-trapping than CO2 over a duration of 20 years and has a global warming potential 28-34 times than that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

Nitrous oxide, generated from producing and using fertilizers, is up to 300-times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. According to a report by the United Nations, the meat and dairy industries account for over 65% of nitrous oxide emissions globally, mainly due to the production of animal feed.

Start today, start now, be vegan, and let’s join hands to cool down the planet for us and for future generations to come.