Heat Stress: Water, Rest, Shade

0:58 refresher video · the full talk is below: key points, steps, quiz and a free printable sign-off sheet.

Key points

• Drink water often — about one cup every 15 to 20 minutes during hot work — even if you are not thirsty.
• Rest in shade or a cool place. Rest breaks get longer as the heat goes up.
• New and returning workers need time to get used to the heat (acclimatization). Build up over about a week.
• Watch each other. People with heat illness often do not notice it themselves.
• Heat stroke is an emergency. Call for help and cool the person at once.

Step by step

1. Check the heat forecast and the plan for breaks before the shift.
2. Start the shift with water and keep drinking through the day.
3. Wear light, loose clothing, and a hat or hard-hat shade when allowed.
4. Do the heaviest work in the coolest part of the day.
5. Take rest breaks in shade or a cool area.
6. Check on your buddy: confusion, stumbling or heavy sweating that stops are danger signs.
7. If someone shows signs of heat stroke, call emergency services and cool them with water, ice or wet cloths while you wait.

Never

• Never wait until you are thirsty to drink.
• Never leave a worker with heat symptoms alone.
• Never push a new worker to a full workload in the heat on day one.

Who needs this training

• Outdoor workers: construction, landscaping, delivery, oil and gas, agriculture.
• Indoor workers near heat sources: kitchens, laundries, foundries, boiler rooms, warehouses without cooling.
• New and returning workers, and anyone wearing heavy PPE or protective suits.

What the rule says

In the US, OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention campaign is built on three words: Water. Rest. Shade. OSHA can cite employers for serious heat hazards under the General Duty Clause. Some states, such as California, Washington and Oregon, have their own heat illness rules. Check which rules apply to your site.

NIOSH recommends a heat illness prevention plan with acclimatization for new and returning workers, rest breaks that increase with the heat, water, shade, training and medical monitoring where needed.

In the Gulf, countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia ban outdoor work in direct sun during the hottest midday hours in summer.

Common mistakes

• Giving new workers a full workload in the heat on their first day.
• Water too far from the work area, so people do not drink.
• Relying on energy drinks or caffeine instead of water.
• Ignoring early signs such as cramps, headache and dizziness.
• No one trained to recognise heat stroke and act fast.

Talk about it

1. Where is the nearest shade and cool water on our site today?
2. What are the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
3. Who is new or back from leave and still getting used to the heat?

Quick check

Questions people ask

Based on OSHA Heat Illness Prevention campaign ("Water. Rest. Shade."); NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (2016). This talk is a summary for training. Your site's written procedure and your supervisor's instructions come first.