Heat stress can be a serious problem in hot working environments. The core body temperature for a human must be maintained within a very narrow range, regardless of work load or adverse environmental conditions. An increase in core body temperature of 6.5 F above normal can result in death. The body initially responds to heat by sweating and by circulating blood closer to the skin's surface to lower the main body temperature. When exposure to heat takes place over an extended period, a process of physiological adaptation called acclimatization occurs. Acclimatization may take weeks, although significant adaptation occurs within a few days of the first exposure. Once acclimatization is achieved, working in the heat results in increased production of a more dilute sweat and less of an increase in heart rate and body temperature.
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