Protect Your Employees From Heat Stress Related Injuries

Protect Your Employees From Heat Stress-Related Injuries

It’s that time of year again when heat illness is a particularly important safety concern to both employers and employees. As many know, I live in Arizona, and this week the average daily temperature in the “Valley Of The Sun” is 115 degrees. I love the people who say, “It is ok, it is a dry heat.” Well, to them I say, stick your head in the oven, turn it on to 11,5 and see if you like it. Hot is Hot.

Depending on where you live, many of our factories in the United States do not have air conditioning, and where they do have it, many employees are operating thermoforming machines, plastic injection molding machines, or are working in areas where it is hot. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workers may experience longer or more intense heat exposures and are more likely to engage in strenuous physical activity in the heat than the general public.

Employer Responsibility to Protect Workers

Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.

Employers must establish a formal written program and train employees on heat-related subjects.
• Provide workers with water, rest, and shade.
• Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
• Monitor workers for signs of illness.

What’s the big deal about heat?

Heat illness occurs when your body can’t adequately cool itself through sweating. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), heat-related illnesses can escalate rapidly, leading to delirium, organ damage, and even death.

What are the dangers?

If you work in hot conditions, you can be at risk of several heat-related illnesses. The following are heat-related illnesses and what to look for:

• Heat rash consists of red, irritated bumps and is a sign that hot conditions are affecting your body.
• Heat syncope (fainting) can occur when a person is not used to working in a hot environment.
• Heat cramps are caused by a loss of salt when sweating. Severe cramps may require a visit to a medical professional.
• Heat exhaustion occurs if you have lost too much fluid, salt, or both through sweating.
• Heatstroke occurs when the body’s natural cooling processes stop working, and the ill person stops sweating. Symptoms of heatstroke include very hot and dry skin, confusion, convulsions, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Heatstroke is very serious and can lead to death.

What can you do to keep cool?

All of these heat-related illnesses can be easily prevented by taking the following steps while working in hot conditions:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. In hot conditions, you should aim for about 1 cup every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
• Drink sports drinks to help replenish the salt you lose through sweating.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they can both contribute to dehydration.
• Take frequent breaks in a cool, shady place.
• If the temperature spikes suddenly or you are new to working in hot conditions, take more frequent breaks, and gradually build up your workload while your body adapts.
• If you notice yourself experiencing symptoms of heat illness, tell your supervisor and take a break in a cool, shaded area. Using a buddy system will assist supervisors when watching for signs of heat illness.

Emergency Planning and Response

Have an emergency plan in place and communicate it to supervisors and workers. Emergency plan considerations include:

• What to do when someone is showing signs of heat illness. This can make the difference between life and death.
• How to contact emergency help.
• How long will it take for emergency help to arrive and for trained workers to implement appropriate first-aid measures until help arrives?
• Consider seeking advice from a healthcare professional in preparing a plan.

If you are attending the AWFS in Las Vegas, July 19–22, 2017, please stop by our booth number 9970 and say hello.