Heat-Related Injuries

Summer is here and so are the high temperatures that often accompany it. This is the ideal time to remind your employees of the safety precautions they can take to avoid heat-related illnesses. 

Last year, OSHA introduced their national emphasis program to protect employees from heat-related hazards and resulting injuries and illnesses.

Heat illness occurs when your body can’t adequately cool itself by sweating. This mostly happens during high-temperature, high-humidity weather, especially when you perform physical work under these conditions. These conditions make you susceptible to the following illnesses:

• Heat rash
• Heat syncope (Fainting)
• Heat cramps
• Heat exhaustion

The top precautions that should be taken to avoid heat illnesses include:

• Gradually build up hours spent working in the heat
• Wear light, loose clothing
• Wear a hat outdoors
• Drink water steadily before and during work in the heat
• Avoid hot foods and drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine
• Don’t overexert yourself, work at a steady pace
• Take regular breaks in cool places

These precautions need to be taken by employees working outdoors or in facilities with little to no air conditioning.

Also consider making the following personal protective equipment (PPE) available to your employees:

• Ventilated gloves designed for hot weather
• Hard hats with ventilation and/or sweat liners
• Cooling towels
• Vests
• Anti-fog safety glasses
• Sunscreen

It is also recommended that employees wear breathable materials and lighter-colored clothing.

Employers must provide access to cool water and shade, and know how to react to a heat illness situation. It is also important to conduct heat illness safety training for employees working in hot conditions. Such training can be found through EHS Hero and HR Hero, which is offered to members by Public Entity Partners.

For more information on EHS Hero and HR Hero, please contact Heather Sturtz at HSturtz@pepartners.org.