Keep Workers Safe in the Extreme Heat

Weather professionals warned people to take caution during an extreme heat wave in the Pacific Northwest with temperatures hitting above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the U.S. and Canada, prompting heat advisories issued from the National Weather Service (NWS). The heat wave has caused hundreds of deaths due to the scorching temperatures and led to numerous wildfire threats. The East Coast also experienced record-breaking heat temperatures.

While many people can wait out the heat in air-conditioned buildings, those whose jobs require them to work outdoors, such as maintenance and landscaping workers, need to take special precaution against heat stroke and other heat-related conditions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offer symptoms of heat illness to watch for and tips for protecting employees working in extreme heat conditions.

Lane Tassin, chief medical officer for FastMed urgent care centers in the western region of the U.S., said heat-related illness can happen to anyone as the human body is not accustomed to higher temperatures. Those especially at risk include individuals with medical conditions, infants and children, older adults over 65, athletes, low-income households without access to air conditioning, and outdoor workers, according to the CDC.

Heat-related illness include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. OSHA recommends that employers and workers watch for fainting, dizziness, nausea, and muscle spasms.

The CDC recommends the following safety measures during heat waves:

• Wear appropriate, loose-fitting clothing.
• If possible, stay in air-conditioned spaces.
• Wear sunscreen and hat to avoid unnecessary sun exposure.
• Avoid touching or lifting hot and heavy metals surfaces and objects.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Don’t wait until you are thirsty.
• Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities if you are outside or in a building without air-conditioning.

Every year dozens of workers die, and thousands become ill due to extreme heat and humid working conditions, according to OSHA. Under OSHA regulations, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards, which includes protecting workers from extreme heat.

OSHA recommends that employers follow these safety practices:

• Provide employees with water, frequent rest breaks, and shade.
• Allow workers time to build a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Offer training on the hazards of heat exposure and how to prevent heat-related illness.
• Develop an emergency action plan and monitor workers on what to do if they show signs of heat-related illness.

The CDC’s environmental public health tracking network offers more information on heat-related illnesses, and tracks extreme heat conditions across the country.