Construction Heat Stress Safety

Face Coverings May Increase Other Risks

Masks, Coronavirus, and High-Heat Conditions

COVID-19 has greatly impacted construction activity in many ways, from delayed schedules and social distancing to temperature screenings and mandatory masks or face-coverings.

Even though the CDC and WHO both recommend face-coverings as one method of reducing the spread of Coronavirus, masks may introduce additional hazards in the workplace.

Specifically, when working in extreme weather conditions and environments.

In this article, I will outline the heat illness risks and possible construction heat stress prevention strategies as you deploy your team in the summer heat during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Environmental Risks

Hypothetically speaking, which is worse – potentially contracting the coronavirus, or taking the risk of getting heat-stroke?  Personally, I would be inclined to face the bug!

In reality, of course, it is not quite so clear. I am not suggesting that wearing a mask alone will cause heat illness. However, I am pointing out that wearing a mask during high-heat working environments, has the potential to elevate the risk of heat stress, which in turn can have immediate life-threatening results.

It is literally the same hazard as wearing a respirator while jogging in the desert, wearing long sleeve clothes, and tool bags around your waist.

Regardless of ambient temperature and humidity, OSHA requires respiratory protection to protect workers from breathable hazards, unless Engineering Controls or similar are established to either reduce or eliminate those hazards.

However, during more extreme weather conditions, more emphasis is placed on implementing special controls, such as rotating workers, taking frequent breaks in the shade, increasing hydration, removing PPE, etc., including Heat Illness training.

Knowing this, simply wearing a mask or face-cover in the heat can and will increase heat-related stressors on the body.

Health Concerns with Mask Usage

Due to recent governmental health orders requiring face-coverings during all social gatherings (including the work environment), site workers are required to wear masks, even if breathable hazards do not exist, and regardless of environmental conditions.

Therefore, we must all remain fully aware that by enforcing the use of masks during high-heat conditions, we may increase the risk to employee’s health.

• Hinders adequate intake of Oxygen (O) and exhalation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Increases heart rate and blood pressure
• Elevates core body temperature
• Increases fluid loss by excessive sweating
• Lowers ability to drink water (and electrolytes) to replenish fluid loss
• Irritation of the skin (face and ears)
• Impairs vision due to fogged safety glasses
• Increases exposure to high-velocity particles to the eyes because workers remove protective eyewear for cleaning and defogging
• Increases respiratory hazards to individuals who smoke or have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, COPD, asthma, heart conditions, etc.

That is to say, while we are using a mask to protect against coronavirus, we are also introducing another set of complications to team member’s health.

Our safety solutions must consider the relative risk abatement for all of these conditions.