OSHA has cited the U.S. Postal Service Truman Station in Independence, Mo., with a willful violation for failing to protect employees working in excessive heat. OSHA initiated an inspection in July after a mail carrier developed heat-related illness symptoms, collapsed while working his route and was taken to the hospital where he died as a result of his exposure to excessive heat.

Although temperatures have turned frosty in many parts of the U.S., OSHA is not letting up on its effort to raise awareness about the risks of heat illness for outdoor workers.

The size of the penalties attached to violations lodged by OSHA against two companies involved in a heat-related fatality in June underscores the relatively small sanctions the agency is allowed to use in its enforcement activities.

On the heels of the hottest month in US history, OSHA continues to promote its smart phone-friendly Heat Safety Tool mobile app, which provides vital safety info on heat-related illness prevention.

Summer’s seasonal woes can creep up on you when you least expect them. Here are a few tips courtesy of the Harvard HealthBEAT for staying cool, dealing with the sun’s awesome radiant energy, managing poison ivy, and warding off the insects that like summer as much as you do.

With much of the Midwest and East Coast in the grip of a severe heat wave – and other parts of the country in danger of returning to it – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is issuing excessive heat warnings that include information that protects outdoor workers by describing the signs of heat illness and what to do if someone becomes ill.

OSHA has raised the ire of advocacy groups by turning down a petition calling for a heat stress standard, opting instead to use its education and outreach campaign to alert employers and workers to the dangers as heat exposure.

Personal Air Conditioners (PACs) produced by Vortec provide a unique solution for industrial employers seeking to protect workers from the summer heat in environments where room air conditioning is not an option.

Hot summer weather can pose special health risks to older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known as hyperthermia.

As temperatures rise, so does the chance of those working in areas susceptible to high heat conditions of becoming ill. To prevent heat-related work injuries and illnesses, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) suggests employers and employees take safety precautions now and be aware of factors that can lead to heat stress; the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke; ways to prevent heat stress; and, what can be done for heat-related illnesses.

The ACGIH® TLV® for heat stress and strain is an excellent starting point for the evaluation and management of occupational heat stress. The evaluation scheme includes the effects of environment, work demands and clothing.