AgriMetSoft


What is "temperature-extremes" and how can we control it?

Extreme weather includes unexpected, unusual, unpredictable severe or unseasonal weather; weather at the extremes of the historical distribution-the range that has been seen in the past. Often, extreme events are based on a location's recorded weather history and defined as lying in the most unusual ten percent. ref

Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks are defined as extreme heat. Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. ref

Control of temperature extremes should be of primary concern to employers with which the Union has a collective bargaining relationship. For outdoor work, administrative controls are the best methods of protection. Because heat stress is dependent upon the amount of heat the body produces while performing a job, reducing the amount of physical work required or the length or duration of work time will reduce the potential for heat stress. Provision of periodic rest breaks is a must. Rest breaks will allow the body time to rid itself of excess heat, reduce the production of internal body heat, and provide greater blood circulation to the skin. Employers should evenly distribute the work throughout the shift by breaking up long periods of work into shorter work-rest cycles. Where possible, the most strenuous work should be performed during the work-rest cycles. Use of administrative work practices are especially important during conditions of extreme heat and high humidity. ref

Name: Ali Sari Motlagh