In addition to supporting performers and crew members with these precautions, in certain situations employers are required to develop an exposure control plan (ECP) before work commences, to properly assess, develop, and implement controls that will help reduce the risk of working in hot conditions specific to entertainment production worksites. The ECP should cover topics such as risk identification, education and training, written work procedures, and roles and responsibilities for everyone on site.
Know the warning signs
As important as it is to take all the necessary precautions when working in the sun or heat, being able to recognize the early warning signs that come with heat-related illness can help prevent serious illness or injury. Supervisors should ensure crew members know the warning signs of heat-related illness, as these can quickly develop into heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If any of these symptoms are observed, performers and crew members should stop working immediately and take action to protect themselves or others.
The leading cause of weather-related death in Canada is now extreme heat events, with the 2021 ‘heat dome’ recognized by the BC Coroner’s Office as the deadliest weather event on record in Canada (BCCDC, n.d.; CBC News 2023). While heat-related illness and can impact every person differently, the presence of the following indicators may put some at greater risk than others: dehydration, lack of sleep, fatigue, lack of recovery from the previous day, gastrointestinal discomfort, having not recently eaten or being in a fasting state, and psychological stress (Morissey et al., 2021). Employers can help to mitigate workers’ risks by developing effective and tailored educational programs surrounding post-cooling strategies to practice after a work shift under heat exposure to enhance their physiological recovery process (Morissey et al., 2021). For example, temperatures decrease less at night indoors compared to outdoors and peak temperatures during multi-day extreme heat events have a cumulative effect, meaning workers can increase their risk while at home as well as the following day at work if their core body temperature is not regulated effectively. Outdoor temperatures often peak around 5 p.m., whereas indoor temperatures usually peak between 9 and 10 p.m. (PreparedBC, n.d.). Raising worker awareness to these variables can help them to stay safe as well as achieve optimum rest and recovery.