Extreme heat significantly increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly during physically demanding work. Adjusting workloads to match environmental conditions helps reduce heat stress, prevents overexertion, and protects workers from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Work schedules should be flexible enough to account for temperature, humidity, direct sunlight, and the physical demands of the job.
This toolbox talk reviews how to safely adjust workloads during periods of extreme heat and the controls that help reduce heat exposure.
Why This Matters
- Heavy workloads generate body heat that combines with environmental heat.
- Reducing physical demands lowers the risk of heat-related illness.
- Planned work-rest cycles help workers recover safely.
- Adjusting work schedules improves safety and productivity.
- Flexible planning helps protect workers during changing weather conditions.
Common Hazards
- Performing strenuous work during the hottest part of the day.
- Working continuously without adequate rest breaks.
- High humidity reducing the body's ability to cool through sweating.
- Direct sunlight increasing heat exposure.
- Heavy or restrictive PPE limiting heat dissipation.
- New or returning workers who have not fully acclimatized.
- Pressure to maintain production despite extreme heat.
- Ignoring early signs of heat stress.
Safety Checklist
Before Work Begins
- Review the weather forecast, temperature, humidity, and expected heat conditions.
- Schedule the most physically demanding tasks during cooler parts of the day whenever practical.
- Develop work-rest schedules based on environmental conditions and workload.
- Ensure shaded or cooled recovery areas and clean drinking water are readily available.
- Identify workers who may require additional monitoring, including new or acclimatizing workers.
- Review heat illness symptoms and emergency procedures during the pre-job briefing.
During Work
- Reduce work intensity when heat conditions become more severe.
- Take scheduled hydration and cooling breaks.
- Rotate physically demanding tasks among workers where practical.
- Monitor workers for signs of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
- Encourage workers to report symptoms immediately without fear of delaying the job.
- Adjust work schedules or suspend high-risk activities if heat conditions exceed safe operating limits established by company procedures.
Crew Talking Points
- What are today's expected heat conditions?
- Which tasks should be completed during the coolest part of the day?
- Where are the hydration stations and cooling areas located?
- Who may need additional monitoring because of heat exposure or acclimatization?
- What signs of heat-related illness should everyone watch for?
- Speak up immediately if today's workload becomes unsafe because of the heat.
Stop Work If
- A worker develops symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Hydration, shade, or cooling resources are unavailable.
- Environmental conditions exceed safe limits and required controls cannot be implemented.
- A worker becomes confused, collapses, or loses consciousness.
- Heat stress symptoms do not improve with rest and cooling.
- You are unable to safely perform your work because of extreme heat.
Final Reminder
Extreme heat requires adjustments to the way work is performed. Slow the pace when necessary, schedule demanding tasks during cooler periods, take regular cooling and hydration breaks, monitor one another for signs of heat stress, and stop work if conditions become unsafe. No deadline is worth risking a heat-related emergency.
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