Preventing Heat Illness: There’s an App for That!
Thousands of workers experience illness and even death from heat exposure every year. However, heat illnesses and deaths are preventable! Employers are responsible for making sure their employees have a save workplace and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a campaign to generate awareness and prevent heat illness in outdoor workers.
Heat illness occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism (sweating) just isn’t enough during hot weather, especially with high humidity. In this case, body temperatures can rise to dangerous levels if precautions are not taken to cool the body. Heat illness can range from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and even heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention and can result in death.
Employers should have a complete heat illness prevention program in place to protect workers, which includes providing workers with water, rest, and shade. New workers, temporary workers, and those returning to work after a week or more are most susceptible to heat illness and should be gradually acclimated to their outside work environment. In times of a heat wave, all workers are at risk.
The following steps should be taken to prevent heat related illness and fatalities:
- Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.
- Rest in the shade to cool down.
- Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
- Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.
- Keep an eye on fellow workers.
- "Easy does it" on your first days of work in the heat. You need to get used to it.