Hazard Alert: Working in Hot Weather

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  CPWR--The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Description:
  Am I in Danger? OSHA says that each year, thousands of workers get sick from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Some even die. You are at risk if you: Work in hot and humid conditions; Do heavy physical labor; and Don't drink enough water. This risk is greater for workers who are not used to the heat. But you can protect yourself and feel better as you work by dressing for hot conditions and taking frequent breaks for water and shade. What to look for... Signs of Heat Exhaustion: Weakness and wet skin; Headache, dizziness or fainting; Nausea or vomiting. Signs of Heat Stroke: Confusion or fainting; May stop sweating -dry, hot skin; Convulsions or seizures. Protect yourself ... 1) Dress for hot conditions: Wear clothes that are: Light-colored (white, etc.); Loose-fitting; Lightweight. Wearing heavy protective clothing or personal protective equipment may increase your risk you may need more frequent breaks for rest and water. 2) Drink Water: Drink water every 15 minutes when working in hot conditions. DO NOT wait until you are thirsty to drink water. DO NOT drink alcohol and AVOID caffeine. 3) Take Breaks: Take frequent rest breaks in shaded, cooled or air-conditioned areas. If you see a co-worker with symptoms of Heat Exhaustion, speak up. If you see a co-worker with symptoms of Heat Stroke, seek medical attention immediately! Your employer should: Have a heat illness prevention program and emergency plan. Provide training on heat hazards and steps to prevent heat-related illnesses. Provide clean, cool water about 4 cups (that's two 16-ounce bottles) each hour. Schedule frequent breaks in shaded or cooled areas. Gradually increase workloads for workers new to the heat. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Health Promotion Heat Exhaustion Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction Workers Health Promotion Heat Exposure Heat Stroke Outdoor Workers Safety Education
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Subseries:
  Hazard Alerts
• Publisher:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055042
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2017 Jun; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Hazard alert: working in hot weather
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8f8fb57527198f11dab65bb43e40c8ca2709ba615dd530e128b0159004094fc1709cfa8c4abfc1b3d8a0030125976044e3a20f6d814dfe237ae44e72175f4f1c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212925/cdc_212925_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 106.10 KB ]