Health and Safety A- Z
Topic: Heat, Humidity, Weather
Hazard: Working in Hot Conditions
Summary:
Work in a hot environment puts stress on your body. When heat is combined with other stresses such as hard physical work, loss of fluids, fatigue, some medications and/or pre-existing medical conditions, it may lead to heat-related illness, disability and even death. This can happen to anybody – even the young and fit.
Hot weather (or hot environment) is defined as:
- Humidex of 35 or more
- Humidex advisory (air temperature exceeding 30°C and humidex exceeding 40)
- Heat waves (three or more days of temperatures of 32ºC or more); and⁄or
- Smog alerts.
Regulation requires the implementation of a heat stress plan to manage the risk of heat stress in a hot environment, and precautions may be warranted at temperatures as low as 21 C (100% humidity, humidex of 29).
University managers, supervisors and other people responsible for work in hot environments at Trent University are required to implement the University’s Heat Stress Plan in their work areas, amended as required to address the specific needs of the work being performed. Work areas suspected to be ‘hot’ must be monitored and assessed, as described by the Plan.
View the University's Heat Stress Plan
For information see:
MOL – Guideline 33 – Working in Extreme Temperature Conditions
CCOHS – Temperature Conditions
Workplace Safety North – When Is It Too Hot To Work?
Last revised: May 5, 2023