Summertime heat, exercise, and outdoor work activities can cause heat-related illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heat stroke. Being able to recognize the signs of any type of heat-related illness is important, but it’s crucial when you’re putting in an 8-10 hour workday outside in the elements.
There are simple preventative actions individuals and employers can practice every day as temperatures start to rise. Precautions include: drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks in cool areas, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has joined forces with state and local authorities and the National Weather Service in campaigns to educate the public about heat-related illnesses Informational web resources, including a downloadable mobile phone app, are central to OSHA’s campaign.
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