OSHA – Safety in the Heat
It’s HOT outside!
You are responsible for providing safe and healthy work environments for your employees. As we are in the middle of summer and the heat can climb to boiling temperatures outside, it’s important to make sure you are keeping in mind what your employees will need to avoid any health or safety issues due to the weather.
OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is reminding you to protect your employees with a few simple tips while the heat scorches: water, rest, shade.
- Encourage your workers to drink water every 15 minutes and find shade to take frequent rest breaks and get out of the sun.
- Develop an emergency plan that illustrates to your workers what they should do given they show signs of heat-related illnesses.
- Provide training on the hazards of being overly exposed to the heat and how to prevent heat-related illnesses.
According to webmd.com, issues you can face due to overexposure to the heat include but are not limited to, exhaustion, cramps, heat stroke or sun stroke, headaches, sunburns, fainting and dehydration. You’ll want to make sure your employees are not exhibiting any symptoms of heat stroke, like vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, flushed skin or profound sweating.
By providing those breaks in a shaded area or providing water for your employees every 15 minutes, you’ll avoid the struggles and stress of them enduring a heat-related illness.
Colony West can help you go further to ensure that you have the right practices in place, no matter the circumstance. We offer OSHA/safety advisory and management services to help you with just that. Give us a call today to discuss ways to protect your employees and business no matter what heat comes your way.
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