Preparing for Heat Stress at Work Before Summer in Brampton

Spring is just arriving in Brampton, and after a long winter most people are glad to see warmer days ahead. But for workers in hot environments, summer brings a real health risk. Roofers, landscapers, road crews and construction workers spend long hours in direct sun. Warehouse staff work in large buildings that can become stifling when temperatures climb. Kitchen staff, bakers and laundry workers face heat from equipment all year, which only gets worse in July. Delivery drivers hop in and out of hot vehicles all day.

Heat-related illness ranges from heat rash and cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. It can affect anyone, including young, fit and experienced workers, especially early in the season before the body has adapted, and on hot, humid days with little breeze.

The end of March is a good time to prepare: to review workplace plans, think about clothing and hydration, and check whether any of your medications affect how your body handles heat. At Pharmasave BramCity, 14 Lisa Street, pharmacists can help with that last question in particular. This article explains what you need to know.

How the body handles heat

The body keeps its internal temperature within a narrow range. When it heats up, from the environment, physical work or both, it cools itself mainly by sending more blood to the skin and by sweating. As sweat evaporates, it removes heat.

This system can be overwhelmed. High humidity slows evaporation, so sweating becomes less effective. Heavy or non-breathable clothing and PPE trap heat. Hard physical work generates heat inside the body. Losing fluid and salt through sweat without replacing them reduces the body’s ability to keep cooling. When heat gain outpaces heat loss, core temperature rises and heat illness can develop.

Acclimatisation: why the first hot days are riskiest

The body can adapt to heat over time. With gradual exposure over roughly one to two weeks, people tend to sweat earlier and more efficiently, and their heart rate rises less during work in heat. This process is called acclimatisation.

New workers, people returning from vacation or illness, and everyone during the first heat wave of the season are at higher risk because they have not yet adapted. Workplaces can help by gradually increasing workload and heat exposure for new or returning workers. If you are starting a new job in a hot environment this summer, mention it to your supervisor and pace yourself in the first couple of weeks.

Recognising heat-related illness

Knowing the warning signs helps you act early, for yourself and your co-workers.

Heat rash appears as small red bumps or blisters, often where clothing traps sweat. Keep skin cool and dry.

Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms, often in the legs, arms or abdomen, during or after heavy work in heat. Rest in a cool place and drink fluids.

Heat exhaustion may cause heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, cool clammy skin, fast pulse, and fainting. Stop work, move to a cool place, loosen clothing, cool the skin with water and fans, and sip water. Seek medical care if symptoms do not improve quickly or get worse.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs include confusion, slurred speech, unusual behaviour, loss of coordination, seizures, loss of consciousness, and very high body temperature. The skin may be hot and either dry or sweating. Call 911 immediately and begin cooling the person as quickly as possible while waiting for help.

Medications and conditions that raise heat risk

Some medications can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature, sweat, stay hydrated or sense thirst. These may include some medications for blood pressure and heart conditions, diuretics, certain medications for mood, sleep, allergies or bladder control, some medications for diabetes, and stimulants. Health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity and some mental health conditions can also increase risk.

Do not stop any medication because of heat. Instead, ask your pharmacist now, before summer, whether any of your medications affect heat tolerance and what precautions to take. A medication review is a convenient way to go through everything at once; ask the pharmacy whether you are eligible.

Heat can also affect medications themselves. Many should be stored at room temperature, and leaving them in a hot vehicle or on a job site in direct sun can damage them. Insulin and some other products need particular care; ask the pharmacist about safe storage at work in summer.

Fluids, food and electrolytes

Drink water regularly throughout the shift rather than waiting until you are thirsty, since thirst can lag behind your fluid needs during heavy work. Keep water close to where you work. For long shifts with heavy sweating, regular meals help replace salt lost in sweat; some workers may use electrolyte drinks, but people with certain health conditions, such as heart or kidney disease, or those on fluid restrictions, should ask their doctor or pharmacist what is appropriate.

Limit alcohol, especially the night before a hot shift, as it contributes to dehydration. Large amounts of caffeine may also be unhelpful for some people. Pale yellow urine is a rough sign that you are drinking enough; dark urine suggests you need more fluids.

Clothing, sun and PPE

Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting, breathable clothing where your job allows. For outdoor work, a wide-brimmed hat or a sun shade attachment for a hard hat, sunglasses or tinted safety glasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin help protect against sun. Reapply sunscreen according to the label, particularly after heavy sweating.

PPE can trap heat. Your employer should consider heat when planning work that requires heavy protective equipment, such as scheduling breaks, providing cooling options or rotating tasks. Never remove required PPE because of heat without approval; raise the issue with your supervisor instead.

Workplace plans and your rights

Ontario employers have a duty to take reasonable precautions to protect workers, which includes protecting them from heat stress. Workplaces with heat risks often have a heat stress plan covering monitoring of conditions, water access, rest breaks in cool or shaded areas, adjusted work schedules and training on recognising heat illness. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety provides practical information on heat stress for workers and employers.

Ask your supervisor or joint health and safety committee whether your workplace has a heat plan and what it includes. Peel Region also issues heat warnings in summer; information is available from Peel Region. Pay attention to forecasts and plan accordingly.

Looking out for co-workers

People experiencing heat illness, especially heat stroke, may not recognise it themselves because confusion is a symptom. Working in pairs or checking in on each other regularly in hot conditions can save lives. If a co-worker seems confused, unsteady or unwell in the heat, act quickly and get help.

Recovering after a hot shift

What happens after work affects how you handle the next hot day. Many homes in Brampton have air conditioning, but not all do, and upstairs bedrooms can stay hot well into the night. Poor sleep in a warm room leaves you less able to cope with heat the following day.

Keep rehydrating in the evening with water and regular meals rather than catching up all at once. A cool shower can help bring your body temperature down. If your home is very hot, spend some time in a cooler place such as a shaded park, a library or a community centre, and use fans and window coverings to keep rooms cooler during the day. If someone in your household is older, has a chronic illness or takes medications that affect heat tolerance, check on them too, especially during extended heat warnings.

Pay attention to symptoms that linger, such as headache, fatigue or muscle cramps the morning after a hot shift. They can be a sign you did not fully recover and should take extra care the next day.

A pre-summer checklist

• Ask your pharmacist whether your medications affect heat tolerance
• Check how you will store any medications at work during hot weather
• Find out whether your workplace has a heat stress plan
• Gather summer work gear: breathable clothing, hat or hard hat shade, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Get a large reusable water bottle you can keep nearby
• Refresh your first aid kit, including cold packs
• Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

For minor heat-related skin concerns such as irritation under clothing or PPE, the pharmacist can talk with you about skin irritations and dermatitis and suitable products.

Get summer-ready with Pharmasave BramCity

Preparing now means fewer surprises when the first heat wave hits. Our pharmacists can review your medications for heat-related risks, help you plan safe storage and suggest products for sun protection and skin care.

Come see us at 14 Lisa Street, Brampton, ON L6T 4W2, or call (905) 460-0330. You will find store details on the contact page, and you can book a medication review or consultation before the summer rush.

Let us know where you work and what conditions you face. We will help you get ready for the season ahead.

This article provides general information about heat stress. In a heat emergency, call 911. For advice about your medications and heat, speak with a pharmacist or doctor.