Summer is a wonderful time of year, but as the temperature rises so does the risk of heat related accidents and injuries. It is up to employers to educate employees on the risks of working in hot conditions and to give them the training and information they need to help prevent a possibly deadly situation.
Sun and heat can cause a number of hazardous conditions including heat exhaustion, heat stress, heat cramps, and the most dangerous of all heat stroke. Ways to avoid these serious conditions are simple and could end up saving lives.
OSHA suggests that before even beginning work it is important to assess an employee’s physical ability to work in a hot environment and to pair up employees so they can monitor each other. Other tips for employees working in hot weather are to drink adequate amounts of water and monitor their temperatures. Also, it is wise to not schedule the most difficult work during the hottest parts of the day.
One of the most important tips of all is for both employees and employers to be familiar with signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. Being trained in basic first aid, and knowing the proper ways to work in hot environments and handle health emergencies can save lives and prevent tragedy. Following basic heat safety tips can keep your employees working safely even in the summer months, and also give them practical ways to work outside even when off the job.
To find out more on how to keep workers safe in hot weather and for plain-English compliance guides check out Safety.BLR.com and our complete library of safety tips and training guides.
Our editorial staff monitors a number of sources, both government and private, to keep you up to date and well informed on safety compliance. Whatever you’re looking for - from working in the heat to (?)recordable injuries(?) - you’ll find the documents and support you’re looking for at Safety.BLR.com. Sign up for a free 14 day trial and see for yourself how Safety.BLR.com can help.
Safety.BLR.com makes safety and training compliance easy. Our editorial staff monitors a host of government and private sources to keep you up-to-date on all the important aspects of safety training and compliance. Sign up for a free 14 day trial and see for yourself how Safety.BLR.com can help.
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