Resource can help better protect workers from acute and long-term heat dangers
As climate change continues to intensify, the risk of heat stress in workplaces is expanding beyond traditional high-risk sectors. In response to this growing challenge, Dr. Sandra Dorman, director of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University, has developed a pioneering heat stress toolkit in collaboration with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc (OHCOW). This new resource is designed to help health and safety professionals better protect workers from the acute and chronic dangers of heat stress.
The growing heat stress challenge
“Heat stress has been a problem globally for a long time, but it’s becoming an even bigger problem in communities where we haven’t necessarily seen the serious impacts before,” says Dr. Dorman. "Certainly, Canada is an example of that, and Northern Ontario also exemplifies this increasing need for prevention.” With 220 Canadians dying annually from occupational heat stress and 15% of heat-exposed workers developing heat-related illnesses, the toolkit comes at a crucial time.
Health and safety professionals will find the toolkit invaluable in preparing for these challenges. It is a comprehensive resource designed to fill the gaps in current workplace safety programs, particularly in relation to long-term health impacts like kidney disease and cardiovascular issues, which Dr. Dorman emphasizes are often overlooked. “One of my biggest complaints is that the biggest focus around the information is on the acute effects of heat stress. There’s almost no focus on the fact that heat illnesses can cause long-term chronic diseases,” she explains.
Key features of the heat stress toolkit
The toolkit comprises several components designed to provide a multifaceted approach to heat stress management.
- The awareness guide focuses on understanding, preventing, and educating workers about who is at risk of heat stress. It also addresses overlooked factors, such as how certain medications or biological differences (like sex and age) can increase vulnerability to heat illnesses.
- The physiological monitoring guide provides tools and strategies for incorporating wearable technology into heat stress prevention programs. These technologies can monitor physiological markers such as heart rate and core temperature, helping to prevent heat-related illnesses before they occur. “We’re outlining for them what the obvious ones are for the way that most of the tools are currently designed,” notes Dr. Dorman, highlighting the practical guidance provided for implementing these new technologies.
- Prevention tools and strategies include practical aids like a humidex calculator and examples of how workplaces can implement site-specific measures, such as providing water and shade. “It’s also got videos and infographics to support the materials in the guides,” Dr. Dorman adds, pointing to the toolkit’s robust educational resources.
A resource for compliance and beyond
The Ontario government’s recent proposal to require all workplaces to implement a heat stress management program has underscored the need for comprehensive resources like this toolkit. Dr. Dorman sees the toolkit as a vital resource for health and safety professionals looking to comply with new regulations and enhance their existing programs. “I would have my health and safety people look at the Awareness Guide first and foremost to see what they’re addressing in their plan and what they’re not addressing, so that they can close those gaps,” she advises.
Furthermore, the toolkit’s resources are available in multiple languages, including English, French, and Spanish, making them accessible to a broader range of workers. “We identified a need for these resources particularly around farm workers,” Dr. Dorman points out, demonstrating the toolkit’s inclusive approach.
The future of heat stress management
Looking ahead, Dr. Dorman is optimistic about the future of heat stress management, particularly with the integration of wearable technology in workplaces. “I think there’s a big focus around understanding and grappling with the benefits and challenges of wearable technology,” she says. “Many people are already implementing it in their own personal lives, so there’s a lot more comfort and appetite for it in the workplace.”
However, she also warns of the potential challenges that come with these new tools. “Anytime you put a new tool in your workplace, it’s going to have secondary problems, outcomes, and benefits,” Dr. Dorman explains, urging health and safety professionals to carefully consider how these technologies will be integrated into their specific work environments.
By filling the gaps in current educational programs and providing guidance on new technologies, the toolkit equips health and safety professionals with the tools they need to protect their workers from both the immediate and long-term dangers of heat stress.
