McConnell Dowell’s Ken Wyllie has worked in the role of HSE Manager for the last 11 years overseas and in Australia, and has spent 8 years as a specialist Safety and Training Adviser.
Mr Wyllie says that, during his time in the industry, the highest temperatures that he has worked in have included approximately 52 degrees Celsius in Saudi Arabia and 48 degrees Celsius in Australia.
Mr Wyllie insists that the dangers of heat stroke should not be underestimated.
“It is essential that pipeline workers are aware of heat stress as it can lead to further complications such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, prickly heat, heat fainting and heat stroke,” he says.
In addition, long-term heat exposure can affect health and safety in a variety of ways, such as:
* Reducing the ability to concentrate – hot conditions make it more difficult to concentrate and have also been found to correlate with workplace incidents;
* Aggravating effects of other hazards – being short tempered, getting irritable at minor issues e.g., noise seems to be louder than usual;
* Other long-term health issues including chronic heat exhaustion, high blood pressure, heart disease and sexual impotence.
Mr Wyllie explains that an awareness of heat stress has always been high, however the actual adherence to best practice for preventative measures had previously been left to individuals or supervisors of the workforce.
“The control measures were mainly of an administrative focus on worker rotations in and out of shade, start times to avoid the hottest part of the day, and intake of fluids.
“In more recent years engineering controls have been introduced such as air conditioning in equipment cabs when equipment has been renewed, the use of cooling aids, neck ties, neck wraps, cooling caps, cooling vests and cooling wrist bands,” he says.
Mr Wyllie notes that another advance in heat stress prevention is the focus on the diet of workers. Workers on a pipeline spread are provided with meals containing the correct natural salts that need to be replenished after a day out in the heat. He stresses that supplementary drinks for rehydration should only be used under the direction of medical staff as these need to be balanced along with dietary concerns.
In the event that a worker suffers from heat stress, Mr Wyllie says “It is advisable for the employee to be removed from the heat, cool down, given fluids, and if their condition deteriorates seek medical advice. Further treatment may require the introduction of gastrolytes and the insertion of a drip.”
Heat stress management on the DBNGP
McConnell Dowell currently has teams working on the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) Stage 5B Expansion in Western Australia.
“Workers in areas like this are regularly exposed to temperatures ranging from high 30s to mid 40s during the summer months in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Mid West regions,” says Mr Wyllie.
Mr Wyllie says that McConnell Dowell is using the above mentioned engineering and administrative control measures to manage heat stress on the DBNGP spread.
McConnell Dowell ensures that cool drinking water and ice is collected at the camp in the morning before departing for the day’s work location, rock salts were introduced in the mess in place of table salts, and up to five selections of food types are provided during main meals to allow workers to alter their diet regularly.
Site paramedics visit work groups daily and administer correct doses of supplementary drinks, which are sanctioned by the company doctor. McConnell Dowell provides back pack drinking dispensers to personnel whose duties require them to walk distances (for example, fauna handlers), as well as broad brimmed helmet attachments.
“Heat stress is discussed at project inductions, camp inductions, pre-start meetings and toolbox talks. Information cards are displayed and issued to demonstrate the different stages of dehydration, heat stress signs and symptoms,” says Mr Wyllie.
Heat exhaustion warning signs * Clammy skin * Confusion * Light-headedness * Fainting * Slurred speech * Nausea * Rapid pulse * Vomiting * Weakness * Short temper * Fatigue * Loss of concentration
Heat stroke symptoms * Staggering walk * Mental confusion * Hot skin * Temperature rise (yet person may feel chilled) * Convulsions * Unconsciousness * Incoherence * Deliriousness