Heat Illness in the Workplace: How You Can Control the Risk
When temperatures soar, workers face a greater risk of experiencing heat illness. This condition strikes employees in many different industries and can be fatal in its most extreme cases. In order to prevent the debilitating effects of heat illness, employers are responsible for controlling their employees’ exposure to excessive heat.
Preventive Steps You Can Take
A new Cal/OSHA regulation (enacted in June 2006) requires employers to comply with heat illness prevention standards. By following some simple guidelines, employers can better protect their employees against heat illness. The “Cal/OSHA Heat Advisory” lists seven steps employers can take to reduce heat risks:
- Recognize the hazards of heat and working conditions.
- Supply adequate drinking water.
- Provide shaded working and rest areas.
- Acclimatize workers to hotter conditions.
- Schedule rest breaks.
- Recognize the symptoms of heat illness and get prompt medical attention.
- Establish heat illness training for supervisors and employees.
Get Help From State Fund
State Fund is helping employers reduce the risk of heat illness through information and training. In response to record heat in California, we have expanded the number of our free “Heat Illness Prevention” seminars and opened them to the general public. The seminars cover lifesaving topics that can enable employers to implement an effective program for heat illness mitigation.
For your convenience, we also have prepared other valuable informational resources about preventing heat illness in the workplace. To read more, please refer to the following links.
State Fund Resources
State of California Resources
U.S. Government Resources
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