As temperatures rise in the state, the risk of heat exposure becomes a larger threat. OSHA has found that almost half of heat-related deaths occur on a worker's very first day on the job and over 70% if heat-related deaths occur during a worker's first week. As an employer or employee, it's important to have the right tools and accurate information to prevent these tragedies from happening. The three key solutions to keep in mind are: water, rest and shade.
Water should always be readily available to all workers at all times. Workers should be encouraged to drink at least one cup (8 ounces) of water every 20 minutes while working in the heat, not just if they become thirsty. For a full work day, that would require about 1.5 gal of water for a singular worker.
Rest refers to taking a break out of the sun's heat. The length and frequency of rest breaks should increase as heat rises. Breaks should last long enough for workers to recover from the heat. Usually an hour or even more, depending on how hot the day is. It is IMPERATIVE that your employees do not skip their breaks. Breaks should last longer if there are limited shaded or cool areas. In order to make the most of the breaks, the best course of action is to cool down and hydrate. A simple cooling towel will do the job!
Shade is the final recommendation to keep workers safe from the heat. Workers should have a shaded, cool location where they can take their breaks and recover. Examples of a proper location could be:
With products readily available and keeping those three solutions in mind, for the sweltering day, workers' only concern is to get the job done right. See more heat relief products here and for more information about heat stress, go to https://www.osha.gov/heat