OSHA reminds Texas employers to protect workers from heat illness

DALLAS – With sweltering temperatures baking Texas this week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds employers to protect their workers from heat illness.

As part of its Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers, OSHA offers a free Heat Safety Tool – a downloadable app that calculates a worksite’s heat index and displays a risk level to outdoor workers. With a simple click, users can get reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness. The tool is available in English and Spanish.

Water, Rest and Shade: three simple words can mean the difference between life and death when temperatures soar. Remember, protecting workers from rising temperatures is about more than their comfort.

To prevent heat related illness and fatalities:

• Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.
• Rest in the shade to cool down.
• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
• Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.
• Keep an eye on fellow workers.
• “Easy does it” on your first days of work in the heat. You need to get used to it.

For more information about OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers, visit www.osha.gov/heat