IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

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The Summer is Coming: Watch Out for Heatstroke!


The Summer is Coming: Watch Out for Heatstroke!

Watch out for heatstroke. You should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms, take preventive measures and, if need be, decide on an alternate work/rest regimen. The IRSST has updated its tools to help you avoid heatstroke in the workplace.

Designed for employers, workers and OHS officers, these tools are intended to aid the management of heat-related constraints and the risks associated with heatwaves in outdoor and indoor workplaces.

The Calculating Corrected Air Temperature tool, which was recently added to this series of utilities, makes it possible to quickly calculate heat stress using a simple thermometer or a psychrometer. The result obtained is accompanied by instructions regarding hydration and suggested preventive measures.

Each year, 24 workers are victims of heatstroke

According to the 2014–2018 statistics of the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), an average of 24 workers each year become ill because of working in the heat. To prevent potential illness, it is better to estimate workers’ exposure to heat.