Watch out for scorching summer temperatures at work

by | Jul 9, 2020 | Workplace Accidents, Workplace Injuries |

Pennsylvania is known for its beautiful summers that bring along hot temperatures and humid conditions. It’s perfect for days where you are swimming at the pool, relaxing with your family or staying indoors. It’s not perfect for employees who work outdoors or in stuffy warehouses.

Heat affects employees physically and mentally as they have to actively keep themselves cool and preserve through their workday. And it’s not just workers who are based outdoors. Many production employees suffer from heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat stress.

It’s critical to know how to prevent heat illnesses while you’re on the job, and there are a few simple ways to do that every day this summer.

Stay cool

The first, and most important, tip is to stay cool. Most employees don’t even recognize when they are starting to get overheated in the workplace, so staying cool is essential for preventing heat rash, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Some easy ways to keep cool is to:

  • Take frequent breaks in cool or shaded areas
  • Drink plenty of fluids, including water or liquids with electrolytes
  • Use a cold compress to cool down after extreme heat exhaustion

Monitor your workload

While most warehouse employees need to stay on a strict schedule, it’s critical to not overwork yourself. It may end with you fainting or suffering from a heat-related illness, so your best strategy is to monitor your workload. Do not push yourself to lift or exert too much effort under extreme heat conditions. Your workplace should also allow you to take more frequent breaks for rest and water during heat waves or extreme conditions.

Educating staff

This tip relies mostly on supervisors and company leaders to educate workers about how to address extreme heat on the warehouse floor. They should include how to spot heat-related illnesses and treat them until medical professionals arrive.

Also, there needs to be further communication about how to enact an emergency plan in the case of a heat-related issue.

Employees should ask their employers about the policies already set up for workers’ injuries and how they plan to address heat-related illnesses as they arise in the summer months.

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