So, what can workers and employers do to reduce risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths?
In general, you should protect yourself from the sun and limit exposure by ensuring rest breaks, providing shade and recovery areas, encouraging appropriate clothing and providing a large container with regularly replenished cool water for workers to immerse hands and forearms. Assign new, unacclimatized workers to lighter shifts with more rest periods (no more than 20% of time in the heat, and no more than a 20% increase each subsequent day).
Create a heat alert program, including steps to take during an excessive heat watch. Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and what to do when they occur. This list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes symptoms and first aid recommendations for heat-related illnesses, from heat stroke to heat rash.
Download the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Heat Safety Tool App, which provides a real-time heat index and interactive, hourly forecasts for your location along with occupational safety and health recommendations. This will tell you what time of day is safer for outdoor work and when it gets too hot for anyone to be working.
You can also monitor the National Weather Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) heat index. This tells you how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in, as well as other heat index values such as shade, full sunshine and light or strong wind.
Last but not least, hydrate! Provide convenient toilet facilities so workers don’t delay hydrating, and follow these hydration tips:
- Drink water, and eat it too! Our daily fluid intake also comes from the foods we eat. Fresh fruits like grapes and peaches and vegetables like celery, cucumbers and lettuce can be between 70% and 95% water and are packed with nutrients.
- Know the difference between sports drinks and energy drinks. While it’s a good idea to grab a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade to help replenish electrolytes lost while sweating, energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster are loaded with caffeine — sometimes more than coffee. Excess caffeine can put additional strain on your heart, which is the last thing you need on a hot day.
- Look at your medications: do any act as a diuretic? Many blood pressure medications that increase urination will put you at increased risk of dehydration if you aren’t staying hydrated. Consult your doctor if you have questions about your medications and how to stay safe working in the heat.
- Limit alcohol intake. Knowing you shouldn’t drink alcohol on the job is a no-brainer, but did you know tossing a few back the night before will contribute to dehydration the next day? Hangover symptoms such as dry mouth, headache and a fast heartbeat are all part of the dehydration your body feels up to 24 hours after consuming alcohol.