OSHA Launches New Program for Heat Safety

As a contractor in the Midwest, you’re no stranger to working in extreme environments. From our frigid winters to our sweltering summers, there will always be risks to workers. As we enter the hottest part of summer, it’s important to make sure you have a safety plan in place for heat illness prevention.

According to reports from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 35 fatalities per year and 2,700 cases resulting in days away from work occurred between 2015 and 2019. However, those numbers could be larger due to underreporting. In efforts to reduce heat-related illness, OSHA launched a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) in April to protect workers from indoor and outdoor heat exposure.

OSHA offers a free and confidential On-Site Consultation Program to help small and medium-sized businesses identify workplace hazards, provide advice for compliance and assist in establishing and/or improving company safety and health programs. Using this service does not result in penalties or citations.

As an employer, participating in OSHA’s safety and health consultation program could help lower your injury and illness rates (not to mention any associated costs) while boosting employee morale and productivity.

WHAT TO EXPECT

On heat priority days — days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or when the National Weather Service has issued a heat warning for a certain area — OSHA field staff will engage in proactive outreach and compliance assistance to help keep workers safe on the job. During a heat-related inspection, OSHA inspectors and compliance specialists might:

Determine if you have a heat illness prevention program

Review OSHA 300 injury and illness logs and 301 incident reports

Review any records of heat-related emergency room visits

Interview workers for symptoms and conditions

Preventing Occupational Heat-Related Illness

Workers exposed to high temperatures should be allowed adequate water, rest and shade throughout their shifts to keep their body temperature down. Additionally, any new workers should gradually increase workloads and take frequent breaks as they build up their tolerance for working in the heat. Employers should also encourage the buddy system of monitoring workers for signs of heat illness/stress:

Heat cramps

Heat RASH

Shallow Breathing

Dizziness

Headaches

Slurred Speach