Keeping outdoor workers safe and cool in the extreme heat

Due to the nature of their job, outdoor workers are exposed to a number of elements. The sun, in particular, can have drastic implications for workers if they’re not careful.

With the continued rise in extreme weather patterns, outdoor workers are at a greater risk of heat-related illnesses as the weather gets hotter and more humid. Examples include construction workers, agricultural workers, road crews and landscaping or maintenance workers.

Keeping outdoor workers safe from the heat means keeping an eye on the “heat index,” a single value that takes both temperature and humidity into account. The higher the heat index, the hotter the weather feels. The heat index is a better measure than air temperature alone for estimating the risk to workers from environmental heat sources. For example, in New York City at 12 noon ET, the temperature reading was 89 degrees F while it felt like 97 degrees F.

Related: Extreme heat: What insurance pros and their clients need to know

Heat-related illness can be prevented

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) doesn’t have a specific standard that covers working in hot environments. Nonetheless, under the OSH Act, employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, including heat-related hazards.

Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers has employers and worksite supervisors in mind as they prepare and implement hot weather plans. It explains how to use the heat index to determine when extra precautions are needed at a worksite to protect workers from environmental contributions to heat-related illness. Workers performing strenuous activities, workers using heavy or non-breathable protection clothing and workers who are new to an outdoor job need additional precautions beyond those warranted by heat index alone.

Workers new to outdoor jobs are generally most at risk for heat-related illnesses, thus it’s important to gradually increase the workload or allow more frequent breaks to help new workers and those returning to a job after time away build up a tolerance for hot conditions.

Additionally, the Insurance Council of Texas advises monitoring for these signs of a possible heat stroke or heat exhaustion:

• An absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin
• Rapid pulse
• Difficulty breathing
• Strange behavior
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

Related: Freak weather sparking mayhem may linger

Temperature change rampant across the globe

The weather in recent weeks has wreaked havoc across the globe.

Japan was hit by a deadly heatwave and historic flooding, and the country is bracing for a typhoon, while wildfires in Greece’s Attica region killed at least 74 people.

In the U.S., 40 million people from Washington state to Arizona were under an excessive heat warning or advisory on July 24, 2018, reports USA Today. Such weather conditions have led to wildfires in Texas and California, while concerns on the Atlantic seaboard tend to revolve around hurricane season, which began June 1.

Being prepared before, during and after a wave of heat hits will be essential going forward. As temperatures continue to spike, outdoor workers and their employers need to be familiar with the best practices that keep everyone safe from the heat.

Related: Which U.S. cities face the highest risk from climate change?