Heat

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota OSHA is advising the state’s employers and employees to prepare for severe weather this summer.

Washington – Careful planning is needed to help new employees adapt to working in hot environments, NIOSH stressed in a July 14 blog post.

Longer hours and increasing climate levels are transforming work zones into dangerous heat zones. Ignoring early warning signs such as heat discomfort, sweating or thirst can lead to heat-related illness, including heat stroke and death.

Washington – Outdoor workers need to get plenty of water, rest and shade this summer, OSHA is reminding employers as part of the agency’s annual heat illness prevention campaign.

If you work outside, do so safely and know your body’s limits.

Fresno, CA – To help educate employers and workers about heat exposure at outdoor worksites, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched its annual Heat Illness Prevention Program.

Although the type of garment/fabric is a contributing factor, research indicates that garments play a relatively minor role in reducing heat stress – especially when compared to work practices regarding proper hydration and rest breaks.

Ottawa – Repeated exposure to heat stress on the job may cause experienced firefighters to become more tolerant to its effects, suggests a new study http://oeh.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15459624.2013.821574 from the University of Ottawa.

Washington – NIOSH is requesting feedback on a draft update to its criteria for a recommended standard on occupational exposure to heat.

Winston-Salem, NC – Housing for migrant farmworkers may not provide adequate relief from hot temperatures, reducing workers’ ability to rest and recover from work exposure to heat, according to a new study from the Wake Forest School of Medicine.