During the hot summer months, heat stress is major risk for workers spending a lot of time working outside or in hot environments. Construction workers are particularly susceptible to heat exposure due to long hours outside or working in rooms without climate control. Heat stress can result in strokes, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes and can also increase the risk of injuries for workers, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Ensuring that your body is regularly hydrated and protected from the sun during hot months is essential to maintaining balance for performing well at work. Workers need to be especially diligent in monitoring their heat levels now as COVID-19 safety protocols call for increased use of face coverings and spending more time outdoors.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has extensive resources to help keep workers safe in high-heat environments. The NIOSH resources include tips on how to recognize and prevent heat-related illness, how to acclimatize to heat, and a section on dealing with increased heat burden while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like face coverings, boots and gloves.
NIOSH has also teamed up with OSHA on a Heat Safety Tool app that can be downloaded to any smartphone. The app features real-time heat index and hourly forecasts, specific a user’s location, as well as occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH.
NAHB also has resources to keep residential construction workers safe in the heat. Visit the Heat Stress Video Toolbox Talk for a video and downloadable resources to help beat the heat.
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