Summer in South Carolina can be a substantially dangerous time for those who work outdoors, with heat exposure causing an average of 40 deaths every year nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are many steps that employers can take to reduce the dangers of extreme heat: training, prevention programs and vigilance for signs that workers need to have their heat exposure treated.
Training and acclimatization
In some cases, employees may not be used to 90-degree weather or hotter, and may not have had time to become physically acclimated to the heat, making them more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides guidance for employees working to become better adjusted to high-heat conditions. At least five days of 1 to 2 hours of heat exposure a day are needed for heat acclimatization, and workers may need re-acclimatization when returning from an extended absence. Supervisors should remember that all employees will not have the same physical response to conditions — some have higher heat tolerance, and some have higher body mass or weight.
Heat-related illness prevention programs
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers guidance through the Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs. Creating such a program to reduce heat stress hazards can greatly enhance safety for those working outdoors in the summer.
A city can create a heat-related illness prevention program to formally establish methods for reducing hazards. Scheduling practices can help reduce heat stress:
- Schedule work earlier or later in the day when temperatures are lower.
- Set schedules that alternate work with rest and shade.
- Limit strenuous work, like lifting heavy loads, under hot temperatures.
- Drink at least 10 ounces of water every 15 minutes when under high heat.
- Use relief workers when needed.
Personal protective equipment is also an important way to reduce heat exposure. It can include water-cooled or air-cooled clothes, wetted-over clothes, moisture-wicking clothes, light-colored clothing to reflect sunlight, sun hats or sunscreen. Providing shade for outdoor work sites or cooling fans can help reduce heat hazards as well. Ideally, supervisors should provide a temporary shade tent covering the work area.
Watching for signs of heat-related illness
Training for employees can help them to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses for themselves and others, as well as what to do to reduce these hazards. Employees working in hot conditions who begin to experience a headache, dizziness, or fainting should immediately seek shade and an air-conditioned space, and remove outer clothing while fanning and misting themselves with water. If available, those helping affected employees should place ice bags on the employees, along with drinking water, and call a supervisor. They should also call 911, if needed.
The most serious heat illness is heatstroke, sometimes called sunstroke, where the body’s temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone observing a worker appearing to be not alert or confused should call 911 immediately, as these symptoms may be signs of heatstroke.
The most noticeable difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke is that the body stops sweating during heatstroke. Employees who stop sweating should seek immediate medical attention. When left untreated, heatstroke can cause permanent brain damage.
Resources
- In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service launched a new Heat and Health Initiative to protect workers from heat exposure. The new initiative has three resources, which combined give proactive actions that people can take to protect themselves: stay cool, stay hydrated; know the symptoms.
- In 2016, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health published the Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments. This publication serves as a technical resource on heat stress, signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, and heat programs.
- The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety app provides safety alerts and recommendations for local heat indexes.
- The OSHA webpage for heat exposure provides details on heat hazards for a variety of job sites, and how to address them; while the OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign explains employer responsibilities for keeping workers safe from environmental heat.