What is one method to reduce the risk of heat stress?

• A. Turn up the thermostat.
• B. Limit stay time in the environment based on heat and humidity.
• C. Increase break intervals but extend exposure time.
• D. Work faster to finish quickly.

Answer: (B)

Controlling how long you stay in a hot, humid environment helps prevent heat stress by limiting the total heat your body has to cope with. When conditions are hot and humid, the body’s ability to cool itself is reduced, so staying in that environment for too long increases the risk of overheating, dehydration, and fatigue. By setting time limits based on how hot it is and how humid it is (often using measures like heat index or WBGT), workers get appropriate breaks to cool down, hydrate, and recover, which keeps core temperature and cardiovascular strain lower.

Turning up the thermostat would add heat to the environment, worsening the problem. Increasing break intervals but extending exposure time means more total time in heat, which doesn’t reduce risk. Working faster raises metabolic heat production, also increasing risk.