Health, Safety and SecurityHeat Stress and Working in Extreme Conditions
Heat kills workers in mines, on construction sites and inside vessels across this region every year, and it does so after a period during which the person was visibly struggling and nobody recognised what they were seeing. This course covers recognition and prevention. Delegates work through the body's heat balance and why humidity matters as much as temperature, the measurement of thermal conditions and the indices used to assess them, and acclimatisation, which is the single most effective control and the one most often skipped. Work rest cycles, hydration and the practical scheduling of hot work are covered. Recognising heat exhaustion and heat stroke and responding correctly is practised. The course closes on cold and altitude exposure and on emergency response.
Course objectives
- Explain heat balance and why humidity matters as much as temperature
- Measure thermal conditions and apply the assessment indices
- Run an acclimatisation programme for new and returning workers
- Design work rest cycles and hydration provision
- Schedule hot work practically around conditions
- Recognise heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and respond correctly
- Address cold and altitude exposure where relevant
Who should attend
- Safety officers and occupational health staff
- Supervisors on mines, construction and outdoor operations
- Confined space and vessel entry teams
- Human resources staff scheduling work
- Emergency responders and first aiders
Course outline
- 01Visibly struggling and unrecognised
- 02Heat balance and the role of humidity
- 03Measurement and assessment indices
- 04Acclimatisation
- 05Work rest cycles and hydration
- 06Scheduling hot work
- 07Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- 08Cold, altitude and emergency response
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 6 October 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 23 to 24 December 2026 | Gaborone, Botswana | Classroom | R11,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 23 to 24 March 2027 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R11,950 per delegate | Register Now |