Working in hot environments places real strain on the body. Heat stress can develop gradually, and early symptoms are easy to dismiss as ordinary tiredness.
Watch for heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps and unusual fatigue. Confusion, slurred speech, hot dry skin or collapse are signs of heat stroke — a medical emergency that needs immediate help.
Prevention is straightforward: provide cool drinking water close to the work area, schedule regular rest breaks in shade, plan the heaviest tasks for cooler parts of the day, and allow new or returning workers time to acclimatise.
Supervisors should know the signs, workers should feel free to speak up, and everyone should know what to do if a colleague becomes unwell.