Weather patterns around the world are delivering hotter temperatures and higher humidity than ever before. These trends of extreme heat waves impact people who are working both in indoor and outdoor environments. High temperatures and humidity can lead to serious medical issues or even death. According to OSHA, 50% to 70% of outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments! It is becoming increasingly more important for employers to examine their workers’ conditions and verify that the environment is safe.
In July 2023, the United States government announced actions to help protect workers affected by extreme heat and heat index. The Department of Labor and OSHA have been directed to increase the enforcement of heat safety violations to help ensure workers are protected against heat illness, especially in high-risk workplaces, such as construction and agriculture sites.
The Labor Department will be issuing hazard alerts to tell employers what they should do to protect workers, help ensure employees are aware of their rights, such as protections against retaliation, and highlight steps that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has in place to try to ensure worker safety. This directive makes it critical for organizations to monitor temperatures and heat index to help protect their employees and ensure worker safety.
According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, there have been more than 400 work-related deaths caused by heat exposure since 2011, and thousands more are hospitalized every year. This new initiative comes as OSHA continues to develop national standards for heat safety in the workplace. In anticipation of OSHA’s stricter compliance standards for worker safety, now is the time for employers to reflect on their employee’s work conditions. Get ahead of the soon-to-come mandates and create plans that protect your workers from developing heat-related illnesses. Put these plans in place now to protect your employees and avoid paying hefty fines later.
What is Heat Index?
Heat Index is often referred to as the “feels like” temperature or the apparent temperature. Heat Index is defined by the National Weather Service as “what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.” Heat Index is a crucial factor to consider if you manage a business, facility or other organization. High temperature, humidity and heat index can compromise the safety and wellbeing of your employees.
What is Thermal Comfort?
Thermal Comfort is defined by the Health and Safety Executive as “a person’s state of mind in terms of whether they feel too hot or too cold.” The environmental conditions mixed with personal and work-related factors can heavily affect a person’s thermal comfort. It is important for business owners and facilities managers to oversee these elements as closely as possible to assure employee safety and wellbeing.
Employee Safety
Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat in their workplaces, both in indoor and outdoor settings. The best way to protect your workers and ensure their safety is by being educated on how to manage extreme heat.
Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion, Heat Cramps & Other Symptoms
There were 4,764 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2020. Health and safety threats can begin to impact workers at just 80 – 90°F (27 – 32°C).
Know the Signs
Heat-related illnesses can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. In unsafe work conditions, your workers may experience:
- Dizziness & fainting
- Headache
- Increased heart rate
- Nausea & vomiting
- Mental confusion
- Muscle pain & spasms
Safety Tips— Make sure your workers are:
- Staying hydrated
- Receiving sufficient breaks
- Wearing protective clothing
- Aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses
According to the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Record-breaking heat in the U.S. in 2021 endangered millions of workers exposed to heat illness and injury in both indoor and outdoor work environments.”
The top industries that should be monitoring heat index to ensure outdoor work safety include:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Landscaping
- Mail & package delivery
- Oil & gas well operations
The top industries that should be monitoring heat index to ensure indoor work safety include:
- Bakeries, kitchens & laundromats
- Electrical utilities (boiler rooms)
- Fire service
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing
Worker Safety
Heat is the leading cause of death among all weather-related workplace hazards!
Four factors that contribute to heat stress in workers are:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Radiant heat from sunlight or artificial heat resources
- Air flow
Year-round, the states with the highest heat are Florida, Hawaii and Louisiana.
OSHA Guidelines
Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.
In 2021, OSHA implemented a nationwide enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards. Businesses should anticipate that sometime this year, OSHA will be requiring specific standards for hazardous heat conditions. Employers may be mandated to monitor factors such as heat index to ensure their employee safety.
Outside of preventing extreme health and safety concerns, monitoring heat index will increase overall productivity by making sure employees are in an environment that encourages effective and efficient work.
How Can YOU Prevent Heat Index Concerns?
Environment monitoring is the best method for proactively overseeing temperature, humidity and heat index to ensure employee safety.
Room Alert offers an all-encompassing solution to improving worker safety by monitoring temperature, humidity, heat index, air flow and more. Monitoring conditions such as heat index will improve worker brain function, productivity, mood and more. Room Alert will monitor your environment and promptly alert you via push notification, text or email to any changes that could jeopardize the safety of your employees, customers and anyone else in your facilities.
It is always beneficial to think proactively and when it comes to heat index, being prepared could make the difference of life or death.
To learn more about how Room Alert environment monitoring can help you meet heat index guidelines and increase worker safety, check out AVTECH.com or email Sales@AVTECH.com.