As temperatures rise in the Philadelphia region, GBCA is joining OSHA in promoting safe practices for construction workers working in the heat. The safety message comes down to three key words:
Water. Rest. Shade.
Dangers of Working in the Heat and Employer Responsibility
Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in extreme heat or humid conditions. Under OSHA law, employers should provide workers exposed to high temperatures with a complete heat illness prevention program:
- Provide workers with water, rest, and shade.
- Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
- Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
- Monitor workers for signs of illness.
Click below to access GBCA’s mobile-friendly heat hazard toolbox talks and more resources from OSHA (also accessible from GBCA’s QR code!):
- GBCA Toolbox Talk: Heat-Related Stress and Illness
- GBCA Toolbox Talk: Working in Extreme Heat
- GBCA Toolbox Talk: Tips for Staying Hydrated
- OSHA Alert: Working Safely in Hot Weather
- OSHA InfoSheet: Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
- OSHA QuickCard: Protecting Workers from Heat Stress
- OSHA Fact Sheet: Working Outdoors in Warm Climates
Download the NIOSH Heat Safety Tool Smartphone App to help assess the level of risk for your workers, with real-time heat index information, hourly location-specific forecasts, and more.
Click below for more Water. Rest. Shade. information and resources from OSHA:
