Precautions Needed to Protect Workers From Summer Heat
With summertime bringing extremely hot weather to many areas of the country, home builders are being reminded that employees who work outdoors need to take precautions to avoid falling victim to heat-related illnesses.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the two most serious forms of heat-related illness are heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Recognizing the symptoms of these illnesses and taking appropriate action quickly is essential.
In the NAHB study, “Residential Construction Industry Fatalities 2003-2006,” exposure to environmental heat was the cause of 2% of worker deaths in the home building industry.
OSHA provides information to help employers and their workers prevent many heat-related deaths and injuries. Its “Heat Stress Quick Card,” identifies these common symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Heat exhaustion:
• Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
• Weakness and moist skin
• Mood changes such as irritability or confusion
• Upset stomach or vomiting
Heat stroke:
• Dry, hot skin with no sweating
• Mental confusion or losing consciousness
• Seizures or convulsions
It is important to remember that how workers respond to hot temperatures and humidity depends upon individual factors, including their age, weight, fitness and medical condition.
Click here to order laminated copies of the “Heat Stress Quick Card” in English and Spanish for distribution to workers or to download a PDF.
To help prevent heat-related problems, OSHA recommends that employers take the following basic precautions to protect their workers:
• Educate workers about the need to replace fluids and salt lost through sweat, and make sure they are able to recognize signs of heat-related illnesses.
• Provide plenty of drinking water, and encourage workers to drink as much as one quart per hour.
• Encourage workers to wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes when it is appropriate for the work being performed.
• Train certain staff members to recognize and treat heat stress disorders, and make sure all workers know who these staff members are.
• Pay careful attention to the physical condition of workers and whether they are able to work safely in a hot environment. Older or obese workers and those taking certain types of medication are at greater risk.
• If possible, schedule heavy work during the cooler parts of the day or try to block out direct sun.
• Allow workers to interrupt their work when the heat makes them extremely uncomfortable.
• Schedule alternating work and rest periods, with longer rest periods in a cool area.
Another OSHA publication, "Working Outdoors in Warm Climates," contains advice on precautions to take when working in extreme heat and how to protect employees against exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV).
NAHB works with OSHA to provide the residential construction industry with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety. Through BuilderBooks, NAHB offers a comprehensive set of resources that are geared to helping companies improve the safety awareness and practices of their employees.
Too see all of NAHB’s safety resources available through BuilderBooks, go to: www.builderbooks.com/safety.
For more information on NAHB safety resources, e-mail Lindsay Cather, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8163.
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