OSHA Launches Annual Campaign to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses

OSHA has launched its annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers. Now in its fourth year, the campaign aims to raise awareness and educate workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather and provide resources and guidance to address these hazards. Workers at particular risk are those in outdoor industries, such as agriculture, construction, landscaping and transportation.

According to OSHA, 31 workers died due to heat-related illnesses in 2012, and another 4,120 became ill. "Labor-intensive activities in hot weather can raise body temperatures beyond the level that normally can be cooled by sweating," OSHA explains. "Heat illness initially may manifest as heat rash or heat cramps, but can quickly escalate to heat exhaustion and then heat stroke if simple preventative measures are not followed. Heat illness disproportionately affects those who have not built up a tolerance to heat (acclimatization), and it is especially dangerous for new and temporary workers." OSHA Administrator David Michaels reports that lack of acclimatization was the cause in 74% of heat-related citations issued over the past 3 years.

For this year's campaign, OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials in English and Spanish, as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training, also available in both English and Spanish. Additionally, a web page provides information and resources on heat illness – including how to prevent it and what to do in case of an emergency – for workers and employers. The agency also has a free mobile app that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites.