Heat Relief:  Protecting Workers From Summer Hazards

The combination of heat, humidity, and physical labor can lead to fatalities. In 1999, 34 workers died and 2,420 others experienced heat-related occupational injuries and illnesses serious enough to miss work. In many industries, such as laundries, foundries, bakeries, and construction projects, workers face conditions that make them especially vulnerable to safety and health hazards. Higher summer temperatures increase those risks.

Simple precautions can prevent many heat-related deaths and injuries. OSHA recommends the following measures:

• Encourage workers to drink plenty of water, about 1 cup of cool water every 15 to 20 minutes, even if they are not thirsty.

• Encourage workers to avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and caffeinated soft drinks that dehydrate the body.

• Help workers adjust to the heat by assigning a lighter workload and longer rest periods for the first 5 to 7 days of intense heat. This process needs to start all over again when a worker returns from vacation or absence from the job.

• Encourage workers to wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Workers should change their clothes if they get completely saturated.

• Use general ventilation and spot cooling at points of high heat production. Good airflow increases evaporation and cooling of the skin.

• Train first-aid workers to recognize and treat the signs of heat stress and be sure all workers know who has been trained to provide aid. Also train supervisors to detect early signs of heat-related illness and permit workers to interrupt their work if they become extremely uncomfortable.

• Consider a worker’s physical condition when determining fitness to work in hot environments. Obesity, lack of conditioning, pregnancy, and inadequate rest can increase susceptibility to heat stress.

• Alternate work and rest periods, with rest periods in a cooler area. Shorter, more frequent work-rest cycles are best. Schedule heavy work for cooler times of the day and use appropriate protective clothing.

• Monitor temperatures, humidity, and workers’ responses to heat at least hourly.

Here Comes the Sun

Outdoors workers also face the hazards of exposure to sunlight, the main source of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause eye damage, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers, such as melanoma.

“Melanoma accounts for more than three-fourths of skin cancer-related deaths each year, though most skin cancers can be cured if detected early enough,” says Ruth McCully, OSHA Regional Administrator for New England. “Unprotected employees working in sunlight risk exposure to UV radiation. Outdoor workers with fair skin and hair, freckles, or numerous or irregular moles are especially susceptible to sun damage. Even a few serious sunburns can increase the risk of skin cancer. However, workers can take steps to protect their health and well-being.”

• Wear protective clothing that does not transmit visible light.

• Frequently apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

• Wear broad-brimmed hats that protect the face, ears and neck.

• Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.

• Seek shade, if possible, when the sun’s intensity is at its peak-between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of skin cancers and see a healthcare clinician if an unusual skin change occurs.

Free Resources

OSHA’s laminated “Heat Stress Card,” available in English and Spanish, is a free resource that offers a quick reference about heat-related injuries, including warning signs and prevention tips.

OSHA also has a free pocket-sized card, “Protecting Yourself Against Harmful Sunlight,” which provides detailed information on the hazards of UV radiation, symptoms of exposure, methods of protection and sources of additional information.

You obtain an order form for these resources online at www.osha.gov under “Newsroom,” “Publications.” Fax the form to (202) 693-2498, or mail to U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA, OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535, Washington, D.C. 20013-7535. n

Outdoors workers also face the hazards of exposure to sunlight, the main source of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause eye damage, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers, such as melanoma.