July 23, 2007—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reminding all employers and employees nationwide about its safety and health resources offering best practices for working in hot weather, and that those working outdoors should be especially careful of the sun, heat, and other hazards brought on by the summer climate.
Working Outdoors in Warm Climates (.pdf file), an OSHA fact sheet that offers advice on ways to protect employees against exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), highlights precautions to take if working in extreme heat and explains how to protect against Lyme disease and the West Nile Virus. The document also features information for teenagers working at summer jobs to learn more about safety and health.
OSHA’s Heat Stress Quick Card lists tips on preventing many heat-related deaths and injuries. Available in English and Spanish, this laminated card is free to employers for distribution to their employees. It is a quick reference tool on heat-related illnesses, including warning signs, symptoms, and early treatment.
Protecting Yourself in the Sun is a pocket card that explains how to perform self-examinations that may detect early stages of skin cancer. The card, available in English and Spanish, also describes common physical features of skin cancer that can be caused by overexposure to the sun.
These free publications and others related to outdoor job hazards can be downloaded or ordered from the Publications page on OSHA’s Web site.
OSHA notes that the two most serious forms of heat-related illnesses are heat exhaustion (primarily from dehydration) and the more severe heat stroke, which could be fatal. Symptoms include headaches, weakness, nausea, and dizziness. Recognizing those warning signs and taking quick action can help prevent a fatality, adds OSHA.
To reduce the risk of heat stress, OSHA recommends that employees:
- Know symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting;
- Block out direct sun and other heat sources;
- Use cooling fans/air-conditioning; rest regularly;
- Wear a wide-brim hat, cap, or bandana, and sunglasses that block UV rays; and
- Drink plenty of cool water, about a cup every 15 minutes.
