Heat-related illness prevention: New resources from OSHA
Washington — A wallet card, brochure and checklist are recent additions to OSHA’s resources for helping keep workers safe in high temperatures.
The wallet card lists the signs and symptoms of a heat emergency – abnormal behavior; difficulty speaking; seizures; fainting; heavy sweating; and hot, dry skin – and includes guidance for responding to a heat-emergency incident:
- Call 911 right away.
- Cool the person immediately with water or ice.
- Remove extra clothing.
- Give them cool water to drink.
- Don’t leave the worker alone.
The pocket-sized brochure features information on risk factors for and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, topics to include in a heat-related illness prevention program and first aid procedures.
The checklist is intended to assist with identifying possible heat hazards and forming a heat-related illness prevention plan to address and respond to them.
“This checklist helps employers identify their job-related risk factors for heat exposure, assess their preparedness, determine where challenges exist, and develop effective ways to control their heat-related risk and make their workplaces safer,” OSHA says.
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