Last year was the hottest year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) That didn't surprise the experts; nine of the ten hottest years have happened since 2000.
The health-related consequences of extreme heat are evident in a statistic from OSHA: 30 workers die from heat stroke in an average year -- and not just in the sunbelt.
"That means danger for the workers raking asphalt, sweating pipe and performing hundreds of other construction tasks in the heat and humidity," said Pete Stafford, Executive Director of the Center for Construction Research and Training.
The CPWR offers the following tips for protecting workers from heat-related illness:
The CPWR has a Construction Solutions database that helps safety professionals find commercially available solutions to common construction hazards - including heat stress. A webinar on July 22 will demonstrate how to use the database to find information on "Cooling Clothing and PPE."