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Access easy-to-read fact sheets on a wide range of workplace health and safety topics, including hazards, diseases, ergonomics, and health and wellness.
What is avian influenza? Influenza, commonly called "the flu", is a contagious disease caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, and lungs. Many varieties of influenza viruses exist. Some viruses infect only humans, others only birds, pigs or dogs. Some can infect more than one animal (called "cross-species"). In birds, this disease is called avian influenza or the "bird flu". Avian influenza has been around for over 100 years. It was first reported as...
What is heat stress? "Heat stress" is the "net [overall] heat load to which a worker may be exposed from the combined contributions of metabolic heat, environmental factors (i.e., air temperature, humidity, air movement, and radiant heat), and clothing requirements. A mild or moderate heat stress may cause discomfort and may adversely affect performance and safety, but it is not harmful to health. As the heat stress approaches human tolerance limits, the risk of heat-related...
Is there a maximum temperature to which workers can be exposed at work? In most cases, not really. Legislation is not always specific about what is an acceptable range for temperature conditions at work, especially when working outdoors. In some cases, legislation does provide a range of acceptable temperatures for specific circumstances. The Threshold Limit Values® (TLVs®) for heat stress as published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have been formally...
What does the legislation state about temperature conditions at work? In some cases, legislation provides a range of acceptable temperatures for specific circumstances. In other cases, occupational health and safety jurisdictions use the Threshold Limit Values® for heat stress or cold stress as published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Some Canadian jurisdictions have adopted these TLVs as occupational exposure limits and others use them as guidelines....