WHILE THE risk of dehydration is higher in hot or humid conditions, TT Club warns that the threat is present year-round. Workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in cooler environments can experience significant fluid loss through sweating, making dehydration a hazard that no operator should overlook regardless of geography or season.

The consequences extend far beyond physical discomfort. With water accounting for 73-75% of the human brain, even mild dehydration can meaningfully impair the cognitive functions that workers in ports, terminals and warehouses depend upon most. Research published in China in 2019 found that dehydration reduces short-term memory, attention span and reaction times. A 2023 UK study went further, finding that inadequately hydrated drivers made the same number of errors as individuals with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% – equivalent to the UK drink-drive limit.

In cargo-handling environments where workers routinely operate heavy machinery, work at height and navigate complex physical hazards, the implications are significant. Slower reaction times and impaired judgement caused by dehydration could be the difference between safe operation and a near-miss or even a serious accident.

The risk is becoming more acute as climate patterns shift. Prolonged heatwaves are currently being recorded across Europe, North America and other historically temperate regions, exposing workers in locations that have not traditionally experienced extreme heat to new and unfamiliar physiological pressures. TT Club‘s recent guidance on heat stress highlights that organisations must ensure their risk assessments reflect this changing reality, rather than relying on assumptions based on historic conditions.

Dehydration does not exist in isolation. It compounds the effects of heat stress, fatigue and the physical and mental demands of shift work, creating a combination of factors that can significantly increase the likelihood of incidents and injuries.

Neil Dalus, Risk Assessment Manager at TT Club, commented: “The comparison with alcohol is striking and should serve as a wake-up call for operators. We would not tolerate a worker starting a shift having consumed alcohol. Yet, dehydration, which can produce some equivalent impairments, is often treated as a minor welfare issue rather than a genuine safety risk. Operators need to make sure workers have access and opportunity to keep themselves well-hydrated.”

TT Club is encouraging operators to move beyond reactive measures and implement structured hydration strategies as part of their wider health and safety frameworks. Recommended steps include:

• Installing accessible water stations throughout operational areas
• Scheduling regular hydration breaks aligned with existing rest periods
• Providing reusable water bottles to support fluid intake during shifts
• Delivering dehydration awareness training for workers and supervisors
• Workforce education, including the use of monitoring tools such as urine colour charts or wearable hydration monitors to identify at-risk individuals
• Supplementing hydration with access to water-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables