Proportionate risk management call

BOHS, The Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection, has warned that a range of workers can be at risk of the effects of excessive heat in the workplace, from outdoor employees such as construction workers and sporting or leisure industry staff, to those in hot enclosed environments such as bakery workers, miners, boiler room workers and factory workers. The Society says employers may find it useful to distinguish between “thermal comfort” and “heat stress”.

‘Thermal comfort’ describes a person’s state of mind in terms of whether they feel too hot or too cold. This can vary considerably from person to person, with factors such as age, gender, fitness level, size, and weight all potentially having an impact on an individual’s thermal comfort. In contrast, heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail.

 

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