Tuesday, July 2, 2024
As the hot days of summer are creeping upon us, throughout the United States thousands of outdoor workers face the potential dangers associated with overexposure to heat. Factors such as working in direct sunlight, high temperature and humidity, physical exertion, and lack of sufficient water intake can lead to heat stress.
Summertime in Texas means more outdoor and construction workers are on the roads, facing the scorching heat.
Tdi.texas.gov stated, “Five Texans died of work-related heat illnesses in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another 270 Texas employees, nearly half of whom worked in construction or excavation, reported job-related heat ailments that required them to take time away from work.”
With proper training and education, heat-related illness and death are preventable.
The following are heat-related illness prevention tips
Stay hydrated: Provide workers with enough water and encourage them to drink at least one pint every hour. Avoid liquids that can dehydrate the body, such as caffeine. Consider carrying frozen water bottles to ensure cool hydration.
Modify your work schedules: Monitor the temperature throughout the day and modify work schedules to limit strenuous activity during peak hours of heat: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Allow for frequent rest with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. Firefighters and hazardous waste workers should remove gear and take regular cooldown breaks.
Avoid clothing that traps heat: Waterproof or impermeable clothing and wet or sweat-soaked clothing can trap heat. Avoid wearing rain-resistant or emergency protective gear longer than necessary. Layer a work shirt over an undershirt to help keep sweat and heat away from the skin. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, if possible. Carry spare shirts to replace wet or sweaty shirts as needed.
Wear gear that cools you: Consider wearing wet neck towels, gel-filled cooling neck scarves, or cooling vests to keep body heat down. Several types of cooling vests are available.
Modify the environment: If it is impractical to air condition a hot indoor space, consider air conditioning a break room where workers can cool down. Consider portable air conditioning units to cool down individual workstations.
Modify body functions: Monitor how heat affects the body by checking the color of your urine – dark yellow means it is time to hydrate. Outside workers and those in hot quarters expect to sweat in the heat, but decreased sweating can also mean dehydration.
Slowly acclimatize new or returning workers to the heat: New or returning workers need time to adapt to working in the heat. Gradually increase workloads and allow more frequent breaks.
Know the signs of heat illness: Feeling dizzy or sluggish on a hot day can be the body’s way of signaling a more serious condition.
Warm weather-related illnesses can include heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and even heatstroke.
When the body loses an excessive amount of salt and water, heat exhaustion can set in. The symptoms can include severe thirst, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea. Other symptoms consist of profuse sweating, clammy or pale skin, dizziness, a rapid pulse, or normal to slightly elevated body temperature.
Uncontrolled heat exhaustion can evolve into heatstroke, so it is important to make sure it is treated quickly.
Heatstroke can occur when the ability to sweat fails and body temperature rises quickly. An individual who is experiencing heat stroke will have extremely hot skin and an altered mental state, ranging from slight confusion to coma, and may even experience seizures. Releasing the body of excess heat is crucial for survival.
Tips if you or a co-worker experience heat stroke
Move the person into a half-sitting position in the shade.
Call for emergency medical help immediately.
If humidity is below 75 percent, spray the victim with water and fan them vigorously; if humidity is above 75 percent, apply ice to neck, armpits, or groin.
Do not give aspirin or acetaminophen.
Do not give the victim anything to drink.
It takes more than just having water onsite to stay hydrated during the summer heat. Be sure to take the appropriate steps for outdoor jobs for employees to stay safe during warmer weather.
