For some parts of the United States, including the state of Pennsylvania, this summer has been one of the hottest on record. While the heat may cause discomfort to those relaxing and playing in the hot sun, it poses serious health issues for many outside workers and can cause worker illness that in the worst cases results in death.
Recognizing this as an issue in the summer months, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration has launched a campaign to highlight the issue and provide tips on how to prevent work injury due to heat related illnesses.
The campaign identifies those most vulnerable to the issue as individuals engages in heavy work tasks or those who must wear protective clothing or equipment that weigh them down, in conditions considered to be hot and humid. Illness occurs for these and other people when a worker's body is not able to adequately cool his or her body down through sweating. If not promptly treated these types of illness can be deadly.
A high body temperature is a symptom of many heat-related illnesses including:
- Heat rash
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke
The three most important things to do to prevent these illnesses from occurring are drinking plenty of water, taking breaks when necessary and being sure to get out of the sun and into the shade. Another thing that workers can do to help prevent the illnesses from occurring is to allow one's body to acclimate to the work and temperatures. This can be accomplished by starting out more slowly and adding more work or more strenuous tasks over the course of a few days or weeks.
Source: Occupational Safety & Health Administration, "OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers," Summer 2012