Keep Your Workers Safe During Oppressive Heat

The summer months mean construction. Roads, new homes, office building upgrades; it all happens when it’s warm out. Nearly 3 percent of the entire U.S. workforce is employed by the construction industry, which is almost 8 million people.

But even employers in “white-collar” companies need to be aware of the dangers that hot weather poses, especially when their building maintenance person(s) is doing work outdoors. Even those working indoors can be susceptible to heat related illness, such as those in kitchens or welders.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that, from 2011-2019, there were 344 worker related deaths due to heat exposure. Part of this is workers being unfamiliar with how to protect themselves from the heat; most of these deaths occurred in the worker’s first week on the job. So what should new hires know about acclimatizing to the heat, and how to recognize signs of heat exhaustion? And what is the employer’s responsibility for keeping workers safe?

What Does Heat Stress Look Like?

There are many different signs of heat stroke or exhaustion, and not all will happen at once. Most of the time, one or two of the symptoms will begin subtly, so knowing how to recognize it early can make recovery easier for the other person.

• Headaches, nausea and dizziness are the first three things to watch for. This makes things difficult because unless the person tells you, the only one you might be able to see is dizziness. Many heat exhaustion symptoms are ones that only you will know about if it happens to you, such as muscle cramps or spasms, and dark colored urine. If you experience any of these, tell someone and take a break immediately.
• Sweat can be an indicator of good hydration, but excessive sweating or none at all can signal heat exhaustion. Heat stroke is indicated by skin that is hot and dry to the touch.
• Weakness and irritability are common outward displays of heat exhaustion. If you notice someone exhibiting these, tell them to stop work right away.
• Slurred speech, fainting, and seizures are the most serious signs of heat stroke. If this happens, move them to a shaded area as quickly as possible. Remove outer clothing, wet the skin with cold water, and soak the clothing in cool water as well. If an ice bath is possible, this is the best option.

In terms of helping someone recover from heat stress or exhaustion, the recommendations are fairly straightforward: hydrate, shade, rest. Tell that person to stop working immediately, and help them drink water. If you can, soak a washcloth in cold water and place it on their neck.

If the worker exhibits any of the more serious symptoms listed above that might indicate heat stroke, call for medical help right away. With heat stroke, body temperature can rise to 106 degrees or higher within 10 minutes, which can be fatal. Do what you can to help this person with water and shade, and don’t leave until help arrives.

OSHA Tips for Preventing Heat Stress

Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations stipulate that employers must:

• Provide water, rest and shade.
• Allow new workers to take more frequent breaks and to gradually increase their workload so they can acclimatize to working in the heat.
• Acclimatization usually follows the 20 percent rule: new workers should only work 20 percent of the normal duration on their first day. So if the normal workday is 8 hours, they’d only work 1 hour and 40 minutes. Their workload can increase by 20 percent each subsequent day.
• Create a heat illness prevention plan. Who will monitor the workload? How will medical equipment be accessed? What training will be implemented so everyone can recognize the symptoms and know how to respond to them? At what point should work be canceled?

Keep your workers safe this summer. Have a plan just in case someone should succumb to heat stress, and provide thorough training so everyone can understand the signs of heat exhaustion. Encourage safety and self-awareness by telling everyone that no work is more important than someone’s life.