Heat-related rashes are the most common problem observed in hot work environments. In a study that placed forest workers in a controlled environment where one group was properly hydrated and the other dehydrated to just one percent of body weight loss, researchers found a 12 percent decrease in productivity from the dehydrated group. Productivity lags as a result of this exhaustion. This is the point where workers feel extremely dehydrated and experience of physical exhaustion and muscle fatigue. Unfortunately this means that the remaining organs have to operate with only half the blood they normally require, leading to a lack of oxygen for working muscles.Īfter a prolonged period of working in the heat, the heart simply cannot meet the peak oxygen needs of each of the organ systems while adequately cooling the body. Studies have demonstrated that when ambient temperatures reach 95☏, the body moves half of its blood to the skin to produce moisture. Physical ExhaustionĪt high temperatures, the body must work extra hard to cool itself. It goes without saying that dehydration can be a severe workplace hazard in occupations where attention to detail or fast reaction time is key to maintaining operational safety. At an extreme four percent of body fluid loss, the study noted a 23 percent reduction in reaction time as compared to a properly hydrated individual. One particular study found that two percent of body weight loss due to dehydration impaired visual motor tracking, short-term memory, attention, and arithmetic efficiency. Several studies have looked at the link between heat stress dehydration, the decision-making process, and work-related accidents. Impaired Decision-Making and Decreased Reaction Time This study observed telegraph key operators at work, so their mistakes were not critical, but you can just imagine what would happen if a heavy machine manufacturer made an average of one mistake every minute.
At 95☏, the number of mistakes increased to 60 per hour and 138 every three hours – without the worker realizing it. In fact, a performance study by NASA concluded that at temperatures of 80☏, workers make five errors per hour and 19 per three hours. Studies have shown that even a two percent dehydration level due to heat stress dramatically decreases a worker’s mental performance and ability to focus. Here are six of its most common consequences. Heat stress is no joke, and its effects can range from slight discomfort to life-threatening illness.
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