During the hottest season of the year, there are safety measures that can, and should, be taken by workers and employers. However, it’s not always clear why heat is dangerous and what employers should do to ensure a safe workplace, as it relates to temperature. Read on to understand your responsibilities to protect and educate your employees about heat safety.
Who is most at risk?
People working outside in heat and humidity, or indoors with radiant heat sources, have the highest risk of heat-related illnesses. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the risk increases if the workers are “doing heavy work tasks or using bulky non-breathable clothing and equipment.” New employees, or those returning from time away, should also be careful when adjusting to this kind of work environment because their tolerance for high temperatures may be lower than those who have been working longer or more consistently in these conditions.
What are the employers’ responsibilities?
Employers are required by law to provide a safe workplace for their employees. This includes educating workers on the hazards of heat, and strategies to prevent heat illness. Employers are also responsible for providing water, a shady resting area and adequate breaks for their workers.
Your Amerisure Risk Management Consultant can assist with this in many ways. They can:
- Provide training tools and resources to educate employees on heat safety.
- Ensure proper heat safety signage is posted throughout the jobsite for continuous education.
- Perform a jobsite walkthrough to identify an adequate amount of water sources and resting areas.
- Help develop an emergency plan for your business, should a heat-related safety event occur.
Please note: These steps do not supersede local, state, or federal regulations. This article is for general information only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon, for ergonomic, training, legal or medical advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation.
