Employers, It’s Hot Out There! Prevent Heat Illness

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently renewed its focus on a campaign to prevent work-related heat illness. Every year, thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat; some even die. Heat illness can affect any worker exposed to hot and humid conditions, especially workers doing manual labor or wearing bulky protective clothing. High risk fields include the construction, trade/transportation/utility, agriculture, building/grounds maintenance, transportation/baggage handling, water transportation, and cleaning fields.

When a worker becomes overheated, the person’s body temperature may rise to a dangerous level. This can lead to a heat illness, such as heat rash, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Given the Texas climate, Texas employers should be especially vigilant in preventing heat illness. OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign seeks to teach workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather. OSHA provides helpful resources at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.

Employers must provide workplaces that are safe from excessive heat. They should provide their workers with water, rest, and shade. They should also educate workers about the symptoms of heat illnesses and their prevention. To learn more about an employer’s legal obligations to its employees, contact the employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP. Send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.