Full-Service HR

Heat Illness Preventive and Protective Measures for Employers

Abbey McKinney
Reading time 2 Mins
Published on Aug 8
Share

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.

Heat Illness is caused by doing physical work when it is hot or humid. Body temperatures can rise and overheat if the necessary steps to cool off are not taken. When the body is unable to cool itself through sweating, serious heat illness may occur. Heat illness includes Heat Rash, Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion, and Heat Stroke.

Symptoms of Heat Illness:

  • Heat Rash – Clusters of red bumps on skin (often appears on neck and upper chest)
  • Heat Cramps – Muscle spasms and pain in abdomen, arms, or legs\
  • Heat Exhaustion – Cool, moist skin, heavy sweating, headaches, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, light headedness, weakness, thirst, irritability, and fast heart beat
  • Heat Stroke (MEDICAL EMERGENCY) – Confusion, fainting, seizures, excessive sweating or red, hot, dry skin, and very high body temperature

Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in extreme heat or humid conditions. Check this list out for some things an employer can do to prevent heat illness.

Prevent Heat Illness:

  • Provide employees with water, rest, and shade
  • Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks until they build a tolerance for working in the heat
  • Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention
  • Monitor employees for signs of illness

With the right preventative and protective measures in place, not only will employees be able to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses on the jobs, but employers can increase their chances of avoiding the human and business costs of a heat related emergency.


You may want to read

See all articles
X
X
X
X