(Editor’s Note: In today’s Thursday Feature, we examine a potential danger that crops up every year about this time: Heat illness and heat stroke.)
Each year, thousand of workers are overcome by excessive heat while working outdoors under the scorching sun. Many even die.
But heat illness is entirely preventable if you know the signs to watch for and take action early enough.
Heat illness is the result of the body overheating. Normally, the human body will cool itself naturally with perspiration. But when temperatures skyrocket and humidity approaches 100%, sometimes the body’s perspiration can’t keep up — leading to dangerous body temperature levels that can result in heat illness
Signs of Heat Illness
There are many symptoms of heat illness, ranging from heat rashes and cramping to heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. If left untreated, heat stroke can easily lead to death.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that employers develop comprehensive heat illness prevention campaigns directed at workers who work outdoors during the summer’s hottest months and other at-risk employees.
Most heat-related worker deaths occur during the first few days of working in intense heat.
Who Is at Risk?
Any worker who is exposed to hot and humid conditions can be stricken by heat illness, but it is especially prevalent among those employees wearing bulky protective clothing and equipment. About 33% of all heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry, but other at-risk workers include those in the construction, transportation, utilities, agriculture, grounds maintenance and landscaping, and the oil and gas industries.
Heat illness campaigns should include:
- Providing workers with plenty of fresh, cool water while they work
- Schedule more frequent breaks when the weather is hot
- Providing a shaded area where employees can get out of the sun when they get overheated
- Modifying work schedules so that no worker has to spend too much time in the heat
- Planning for emergencies
- Educating workers on how to watch out for the symptoms of heat illness
- Monitoring employees for signs of illness
Some of the most vulnerable employees are those that are returning to a job in hot conditions who have been away for a week or more. Workers need to build up a tolerance for working in hot conditions through a process known as acclimatization, or an “easy does it” approach during the firs first days of working in the heat so that they can get used to it.
Workers need to build up a tolerance for working in hot conditions through a process known as acclimatization, or an “easy does it” approach during the first few days of working in the heat so that they can get used to it. Temporary workers also are at risk.
Working in direct sunlight can increase add up to 15 degrees to heat index values. So if employees are working in direct sunlight and outside air temperature is 95 degrees F, it can actually feel like 110 degrees F.
Avoiding Heat Illness
Here are some tips to preventing heat-related illness:
- Whenever working in the sun or intense heat, drink water every 15 minutes even if you don’t feel thirsty
- Rest in the shade frequently to cool down
- Wear a hat and white or light-colored clothing
- Watch out for your fellow workers and be aware of the early warning signs of heat illness and heat stroke
- During the first few days of working in intense heat, take it slow and easy until you can get used to it.
Since 2011, OSHA has teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service to launch a national Heat Illness Prevention Campaign to increase the awareness of heat illness.
The program has reached more than 10.7 million people and more than 500,000 fact sheets, posters, quick cards, training guides and wallet cards have been distributed, all of which are available for free from the Labor Department’s educational resources page.
As part of the program, the weather service will include important worker safety information about heat illness when it issues extreme heat alerts. Dr. David Michaels, assistant Labor Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, participated in a June 10th conference call with meteorologists from across the country to discuss the new safety messages and to encourage them to include it in their weather reports.
New Heat Illness Prevention App
There’s also a new free smartphone app that was developed by OSHA and the weather service that allows users to instantly calculate risk levels at any worksite and learn the protective measures they can take to prevent heat illness. Already, more than 200,000 people have downloaded the app, which includes full-screen color alerts, improved navigation and accessibility options.
The app can be downloaded for free by visiting the Labor Department’s website or by clicking here.
When it comes to working safely in hot summer conditions, remember these three simple words: Water, Rest, and Shade.