How to avoid heat stress in the workplace

In the summer physically demanding work or working with heat (ovens, foundries) or outside work, construction, etc can put people at risk of heat stress. Depending on the work being done, heat stress can happen at anytime of year.

Under Occupational Health and Safety employers are responsible if this hazard happens to an employee. Employers must take every precaution that this does not happen.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour website link provides information about: 

• what is heat stress
• what steps to take to avoid it;
• what an employer has to do to protect employees from heat stress.

A number of safety associations have additional information on what can be done to prevent heat stress and Occupational Health and Safety compliance.  They are Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), Workplace Safety Prevention Services (WSPS), and Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).