Summer officially begins on June 20th, but it’s already hot in many parts of the country. This means your workers will soon be dealing with very hot temperatures. These conditions can lead to heat-related illness or injury.
Thousands of workers in the U.S. die or become ill from working in extreme heat or humid conditions each year. And anyone can be affected by heat-related illnesses – including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke – regardless of age or physical condition.
Protecting workers from extreme heat is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also the law. OSHA requires that workers be protected from safety hazards and that includes extreme heat conditions. And although there is currently no specific safety standard for occupational heat exposure, OSHA does recommend that employers who have workers who are exposed to high temperatures establish a heat illness prevention program.
This program should include:
• Providing workers with water, rest and shade
• Allowing new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks until they build a tolerance to working in the heat
• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention
• Monitor workers for signs of illness
To avoid heat-related disorders, workers who are exposed to hot and humid conditions outside should:
• Drink small amounts of water often
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting breathable clothing (cotton is a good choice)
• Work in the shade as much as possible and take frequent breaks in the shade
• Eat smaller meals before work activity
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar
Some companies offer hydration stations so that workers can safely and easily take a drink of water. One idea is to provide water bottles with the company logo and encourage employees to keep them at their workstations.
Workers who must be outside during the warmer months should also protect their skin from sun damage by using sunscreen, wearing wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, and limiting their exposure to the sun when UV rays are the hottest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Visit OSHA’s Occupational Heat Exposure page at https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure to learn more about what you can due to avoid heat-related illnesses and how to administer first aid for these types of illnesses.
Besides training and monitoring employee heat-related health, companies can also do things to their buildings to keep employees cool. These simple strategies can go a long way to improving morale, safety and retaining good workers in hot summer months.
1. Optimize Air Flow – Keep air moving and circulating by inserting fans in your plant. Also, open doors and windows to facilitate air flow. Fans don’t cost a lot and they can make huge difference in terms of worker productivity in hot summers.
2. Install Window Film – If you have a lot of windows, glass doors or even skylights in your buildings, they could be making it hotter and leading to higher energy costs. High-quality window film rejects a significant percentage of solar heat and the sun’s harmful UV rays.
3. Change or Coat Your Roof – If your building is due a new roof soon, you should consider a lighter roof color. Darker colors absorb heat, contributing to higher indoor temperatures, while white and other light colors reflect the sun’s heat. If you have no plans to reroof in the near future, you can add a reflective roof coating to your existing roof. This special coating is applied much like paint and is much more affordable than paying for a new roof.
