Every year, thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat and some even die. Heat illnesses and deaths are preventable.
To learn more about proper hydration to avoid heat illness visit http://sqwincher.com/perch/resources/resource-files/sqwhot-tips.pdf
When heat stroke doesn’t kill immediately, it can shut down major body organs causing acute heart, liver, kidney and muscle damage, nervous system problems, and blood disorders.
Having a serious injury or death occur at work affects everyone at a worksite.
Workers suffering from heat exhaustion are at greater risk for accidents since they are less alert and can be confused.
Employers can receive citations by OSHA for neglecting to prevent heat related illnesses for their employees.
The following is a description of an incident that took place in Washington, DC in June, 2012 in which the employer received a fine under the General Duty Clause.
OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to workers, in that employees worked outdoors in direct sunlight for a total of approximately 4 hours, including a one-hour period between approximately 1:20 and 2:20 p.m., in temperatures as high as approximately 98 degrees F and a heat index of approximately 102 degrees F, performing paving work on paving machines that exposed the workers to increased heat. Employees were working at an outdoor jobsite, preparing and repaving an existing asphalt church parking lot. The employees worked in direct sunlight during the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. -11:15 a.m., and 1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Employees were exposed to excessive heat of approximately 98 degrees F with a heat index of 102 degrees F during the afternoon. The National Weather Service had issued a heat advisory for the day of the incident for the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. Additionally, the temperatures to which the employees were exposed were significantly increased for the employees working on or around the propane heat-activated paving machine that was used to install the hot asphalt. One employee who operated the paving machine collapsed in the afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m., arrived at the hospital with a core body temperature of 108 degrees F., and eventually died. A second employee who had been working at the job site all day experienced dizziness and cramps.
This death was preventable . . .
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Maryland Construction Safety Consultants
PO Box 353
Taneytown, MD 21787
410-346-8060