QEHSHealth
Heat Stress
The physiological strain imposed by a hot environment exceeding the body's cooling capacity.
Heat stress disorders range from heat cramps and syncope to heat exhaustion and heat stroke (a medical emergency). Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is the standard exposure metric. OSHA has proposed a heat rule (29 CFR 1910/1926) requiring heat illness prevention programmes, rest/water/shade, and acclimatisation schedules. ACGIH publishes TLVs for heat stress.