Acclimatizing our bodies to extreme cold fronts and heat waves can be helpful, but that is a gradual process. We must find ways to combat changing weather and working conditions so that productivity and safety aren’t compromised.
More than 130 organizations signed a petition (PDF) sent to OSHA, demands for stronger protections for workers exposed to extreme heat. Joining the petition were former OSHA Directors Dr. Eula Bingham and Dr. David Michaels, former California/OSHA Director Ellen Widess, heat illness prevention researcher Dr. Marc Schenker and 89 other individuals.
Although they compose only six percent of the total U.S. workforce, construction workers accounted for 36 percent of all occupational heat‐related deaths from 1992 to 2016 – and climate change may have something to do with it. That’s one of the key findings from new research from the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR).
Today is National Heatstroke Prevention Day (July 31st), a good time to focus attention on precautions that should be taken against extreme heat and humidity.
Employees who are new to outdoor work at at greatest risk for heat-related illnesses. Cal/OSHA found that of 25 incidents of heat-related illness they investigated, almost half of the cases involved a worker on their first day of work.
Although some outdoor workers are required to perform their labors during certain hours, if you’re off duty, the American Heart Association (AHA) advises you to avoid being out of doors in the early afternoon (from noon to 3 p.m.) because that’s when the sun is usually at its strongest, putting you at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.
Every year, thousands of workers are exposed to heat on the job created by environmental conditions, clothing and workload. This heat exposure can lead to costly mistakes, time lost due to illness and even death in extreme heat illness situations. Government organizations, like OSHA, implement guidelines and regulations to ensure that heat-related prevention practices are in place to protect these workers.
National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is partnering with OSHA to heighten awareness among its members of the heat hazards faced by outdoor workers.
An upcoming webinar, Heat Awareness-What you and your Team should know!, promises to take a “deep dive” into identifying the potential exposure factors to heat stress and methods for preventing or limiting their impact.
The state of Maryland is reporting its first heat-related fatality of the summer. That was the conclusion of an autopsy performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Health officials released few facts about the victim, other than that it was a male between the ages of 18 and 44.
