Keep Your Workers Cool With Rest, Water, Shade

As we approach summer and the temperatures rise, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminds employers to make sure their workers protect themselves while working in the heat—both indoors and outside.

From 2011-2019, 344 U.S. workers died due to heat exposure, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace safety experts believe the number of heat-related fatalities is much higher as many heat-related deaths are either underreported or misreported as another cause, such as heart attacks.

Last month, OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect workers from heat illness and injuries. Through the program, OSHA investigators will conduct workplace inspections to prevent employees from suffering heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other illnesses caused by extreme temperatures.

In between inspections, employers can make sure their workers know the importance of  water, rest, and shade. OSHA offers employers the following tips to help them keep their workers safe during hot conditions:

• Encourage workers to drink water every 15 minutes
• Mandate frequent rest breaks in the shade to help workers cool down
• Have an emergency plan ready to respond when a worker shows signs of heat-related illness such as unconsciousness, confusion, disorientation, or slurred speech
• Train workers on the hazards of heat exposure, and how to prevent illness
• Allow workers to build a tolerance for working in heat

Download the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool, a free app that calculates a worksite’s heat index and displays the associated risk levels. Users will receive precautionary recommendations specific to their workplace’s heat index risk levels. The tool is available in English and Spanish.