Recognizing Conditions That Create Heat Illness

Employees’ exposure to high air temperature and relative humidity, radiant heat from the sun and other heat sources cause medical conditions that lead to the stages of heat illness. Working conditions, including workload, protective clothing and PPE, and limited movement of air also lead to stages of heat illness.

Exclamation content: Prevention is key. Employees who wait to take such steps as drinking water and accessing shade, until symptoms appear are at greater risk. Progression to serious illness can be rapid.

The following people bear a greater risk of heat illness than others: