Cities Urged to be Aware of Heat Hazards

Summer is officially here, and that means higher temperatures and hotter weather. The KLC Loss Control Department encourages all members to monitor employees working outdoors.

The U.S. Department of Labor recommends that all employers establish a heat illness prevention plan and that supervisors monitor employees throughout the workday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a chart to identify the symptoms of heat-related health concerns, from heat rash and sunburn to heat stroke. You can download a copy here.

If you suspect a person may be succumbing to the heat, the U.S. Department of Labor suggests you take the following steps:

• Take the affected person to a cooler place, such as a building with air conditioning or a shaded area; 
• Use active cooling techniques such as immersing the person in cold water or an ice bath; 
• Remove outer layers of clothing, especially heavy protective clothing; 
• Place ice or cold, wet towels on the head, neck, trunk, armpits, and groin;
• Use fans to circulate air around the person; 
• Stay with the affected person at all times; and 
• When in doubt, call 911.

Heat illness can strike anyone, even those who work indoors.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a free mobile app for Android and iPhone users that provides real-time heat index information and hourly forecasts by location, as well as occupational safety guidance and health recommendations. You can find the OSHA NIOSH Heat Safety Tool on Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

OSHA also has a heat illness informational work poster you can download here.

The KLC Loss Control Department recently issued a hazard alert to warn members about the dangers of heat exposure. See that alert and related resources here.