Personal protective equipment (PPE) can potentiate heat stress which may negatively impact wearer’s performance, safety and well-being. In view of this, a survey was distributed to healthcare workers (HCWs) required to wear PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK to evaluate perceived levels of heat stress and its consequences. Respondents reported experiencing several heat-related illness symptoms and that heat stress impaired both cognitive and physical performance. The majority also reported PPE made their job more difficult. These, and additional responses, suggest that modification to current working practices is urgently required to improve HCWs’ resilience to wearing PPE during pandemics.
Heat Stress and PPE during COVID-19: Impact on health care workers’ performance, safety and well-being in NHS settings