Employees can die in this heat

SafetyLabor Relations
Written By Alex Santos

Click here to read the original story courtesy of Local 10 News

As a native Miamian, I can tell you that although our summers are hot, this particular one is hotter than any in my lifetime of living here. I was thinking about this and enjoying my morning coffee this morning, when a notification went off on my phone, and low and behold, a farm worker in Homestead, just south of Miami, died working outside in this heat. Yes work has to get done people, but c’mon, your employees don’t have to risk their lives doing it with a little preparation on your part.

The United States is experiencing an incredible hot summer, with temperatures reaching record highs in many parts of the country. This can be dangerous for employees who work outside, as they are at risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat cramps.

As a manager, it is important to take steps to protect your employees from the dangers of working in hot conditions. Here are some tips:

  • Establish a heat illness prevention program. This program should include education and training for employees on the risks of heat-related illness, as well as measures they can take to prevent it.

  • Allow employees to acclimatize. When employees first start working in hot conditions, they may not be used to the heat and may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Allow them to gradually acclimatize to the heat by starting with shorter shifts and gradually increasing the length of their shifts over time.

  • Reduce exposure to hot environments. If possible, reschedule work tasks for cooler times of the day or move them to a cooler location. If this is not possible, provide employees with shade or a cool place to rest during breaks.

  • Increase air circulation. If possible, provide fans or other means of increasing air circulation in the work area.

  • Monitor the health of employees. Pay attention to employees who are working in hot conditions and look for signs of heat-related illness, such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, or excessive sweating. If you see any of these signs, remove the employee from the heat and provide them with cool fluids and rest.

  • Prevent dehydration. Encourage employees to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid sugary drinks, as these can actually lead to dehydration.

  • Provide frequent rest breaks. Employees working in hot conditions should take frequent rest breaks in a cool location. These breaks should be long enough for the employees to cool down and rehydrate.

By following these tips, you can help protect your employees from the dangers of working in hot conditions.

Additional Tips

  • Provide employees with sunscreen and sunglasses to protect them from the sun's harmful rays.

  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing that is light in color.

  • Avoid wearing synthetic fabrics, as they can trap heat.

  • Take breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned building.

  • Listen to your body and take a break if you start to feel tired or lightheaded.

By following these tips, you can help to stay safe and healthy while working in hot conditions.

Alex Santos
As Managing Member of Collabor8 Learning, my role is to build and execute learning and development strategies for organizations seeking to improve the return they are getting from their training programs. We focus on four core areas: performance analysis, instructional design, e-learning development, and learning management. As a hybrid HR/instructional design consultancy, Collabor8 Learning partners with your team to leverage today's training technologies to increase the productivity of your people. I am a senior human resources and training executive with over 17 years of progressive experience. My work in private industry has focused heavily on the development of learning and development systems that transform employee performance from ordinary, to remarkable. I accomplish this by combining organizational development strategies and tactics to blended learning programs with line of sight alignment to clearly defined performance goals. Additionally, I launched Miami Payroll Center in conjunction with my brother and sister-in-law in 2004 to meet the payroll needs of small to mid-size organizations. Our consultative approach to guiding new entrepreneurs as well as more seasoned business owners in alleviating the pain of payroll processing has created a very successful and growing payroll processor in the market. Specialties: Instructional Systems Design, E-Learning, Learning Management Systems, Payroll, Organizational Development, Employee engagement, HR Strategic Planning, Talent Acquisition & Management, Leadership Development, Coaching & Mentoring, Employment Branding Proposition & Positioning, Workforce Planning, Performance Management, and Leadership Development.
https://www.bynimble.com
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