Heat Stress Prevention in Auto Shops
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Indoor Air Quality and Heat Pose Significant Risk in Summer Months
Auto Shop Precautions as Temperatures Rise
Auto technicians encounter unique challenges in the summer heat as can turn workshops into virtual ovens. Metal surfaces, running engines, and confined spaces can quickly elevate temperatures indoors, increasing the risk of heat-induced illnesses for your mechanics and staff.
Luckily, proper protocols, gear, and prevention education can significantly reduce the impacts of high temperatures and poor air quality, keeping your team safe and your shop running smoothly.
What Temperature Is Unsafe for an Auto Shop?
There’s no magic temperature marker or national standard threshold for unsafe working conditions, but the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) recommends using web-bulb globe temperature to assess worker safety. The WBGT represents the total temperature effect on humans including air temperature, humidity, wind, and radiation.
Use the following guidelines to determine the appropriate response:
• Lower than 32.8°C: Standard heat safety and planning
• 32.8°C to 39.4°C: Implement heat illness precautions and increase monitoring of worker symptoms
• 39.4°C to 46.1°C: Take additional precautions to protect workers
• Higher than 46.1°C: Triggers the most aggressive protective measures; consider pausing work operations
You can also check here to see province-specific workplace temperature regulations.
Know the Early Warning Signs of Heat-Related Illness
Spotting early symptoms of heat stroke and other heat-related ailments can prevent serious conditions from taking hold. Arm your team with the knowledge to identify these signs and respond accordingly.
Here are signs to look for that may indicate a more serious condition:
Physical Symptoms
• Dizziness and headaches
• Excessive sweating or changes in sweating patterns
• Muscle cramps in legs, arms, or abdomen
• Weakness and fatigue
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Nausea and vomiting
Behavioral and Cognitive Changes:
• Irritability or mood changes
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Reduced work performance or coordination
Visual Indicators:
• Darkening or concentrated urine (key dehydration indicator)
• Red, flushed skin appearance
• Heat rash with red pimples or blisters, especially around the neck, elbows, and other areas where clothing restricts airflow
• Fainting or near-fainting episodes
Advanced Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Action:
• Loss of consciousness
• High body temperature
• Respiratory distress
• Dark-colored urine (potentially indicating serious muscle breakdown)
• Severe abdominal pain
The progression from heat strain to heat-related disorders can happen quickly, making early recognition critical for workplace safety. When workers show these initial symptoms, immediate cooling measures, hydration, and rest in a cooler environment are essential.
For a comprehensive framework for assessing heat-stress risk, check out this resource from ESDC.
Mitigating Heat Risks in Automotive Workspaces
Heat can be a hidden hazard in automotive environments, posing significant risks even when outside temperatures are comfortable. Awareness and proactive measures are key to preventing heat-related health problems in automotive settings.
Prevention with Practical Protective Gear
Automotive workers often require heavy protective gear, including welding shields and flame-resistant suits. This equipment can trap heat and limit sweat evaporation. To counter this, consider integrating moisture-wicking clothing solutions like Chill-Its® cooling arm sleeves or lightweight cooling vests to enhance heat management without sacrificing protection.
Improving Airflow in Indoor Spaces
In automotive repair shops or assembly lines, inadequate ventilation can create a greenhouse effect. Machinery and lighting add radiant heat, exacerbating discomfort. Employ portable fans to boost air circulation and reduce heat stress.
Navigating Confined Spaces
Work in confined spaces like vehicle interiors or engine compartments can trap heat and humidity, increasing the likelihood of dehydration and heat illnesses. Implementing regular breaks and check-ins gives workers the opportunity to cool off and rehydrate.
Managing Temperature Fluctuations
Automotive technicians transitioning between hot workshop areas and air-conditioned spaces can experience thermal shock, leading to muscle cramps or hypothermia. Introduce gradual transition strategies to help employees adapt to these temperature changes safely.
Providing Shade and Hydration Outdoors
For outdoor automotive work areas, ensure there are shaded hydration and rest stations available. When natural shade is not an option, a durable pop-up tent can offer temporary relief and a place for workers to sit down and rehydrate.
Best Practices to Prevent Heat Stress in Auto Shops
A comprehensive prevention strategy involving hydration, acclimatization, regular breaks, and suitable equipment can make a significant difference in keeping your workers safe from heat-related illnesses.
Stay Hydrated: Essential for Shop Workers
In the automotive industry, where shop floors can get extremely hot, staying hydrated is vital. Encourage your team to drink water consistently, even if they're not thirsty. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises 250 ml of water every 15 to 20 minutes during intense heat.
Promote slow sipping and consider providing electrolyte solutions to replace key minerals lost through sweat, such as sodium and potassium. Kent Automotive's hydration fast packs and liquid electrolyte concentrates are affordable and easy on-site hydration solutions.
Develop a Gradual Acclimatization Plan
For new team members or those returning after a break, a gradual acclimatization to the shop's heat is crucial. Start them off with 20% of their usual workload on day one and increase by 20% each day until they reach full capacity. Regular short breaks in a cool, shaded area can aid in the body's adjustment to the heat.
Establish Shaded Rest Areas with Proper Ventilation
Set up designated cool-down zones with ample shade, fans, and cold water to help mechanics and other shop workers recover from the heat. For continuous on-site comfort, wearable cooling products like the Chill-Its Evaporative Hard Hat Cooling Pad offer several hours of relief and are easily refreshed with water.
Educate Your Team on Heat Safety
Training is key to safety. Ensure your automotive team can recognize the signs of heat illness and understand the correct emergency response procedures. As heat safety regulations evolve, having a formal plan and documented training will become increasingly important.
Though Canada currently lacks a national standard for workplace heat stress plans, Ontario's Heat Stress Act, enacted in 2025, mandates employer documentation of heat safety protocols, including written policies, assessments, training, and annual reviews. As global warming impacts increase throughout Canada, other provinces may soon adopt similar regulations.
Focus on Heat Stress Prevention This Summer
Heat illness can significantly slow down your operations — and more importantly, put a drain on worker safety and morale, from technicians to front office staff. As summer continues, there’s no better time to assess your shop and ensure that everyone works together to prevent heat stress and other illnesses.
For more in-depth guidance, explore:
• ESDC’s Thermal Stress in the Workplace resources
• CCOHS’s Hot Environment guidance
Need support to create a heat safety strategy for your team?
Kent Automotive is ready to help. With hydration solutions, cooling PPE, and portable jobsite gear, we offer everything you need to stay compliant and keep your shop moving forward, safely.
Talk to your Kent representative today to create a custom heat safety plan that works as hard as your team does.