HEALTH RISKS
- Heat stroke is life-threatening. Your body can no longer cool itself. You may have hot, dry skin, experience confusion, convulsions, or loss of consciousness. Heat stroke can kill. If you or a coworker experience symptoms, call 911 and get emergency medical help!
- Heat exhaustion develops when your body has lost too much fluid. Signs of heat exhaustion include damp, flushed skin, feeling tired, nauseous, headachy, or giddy.
- Heat cramps occur when salt your body loses from sweating isn’t replaced. They affect the muscles you use most and can set in after you’ve left work.
- Heat rash occurs when sweat can’t evaporate from your skin. It can make work activities difficult to perform.
A SAFE WORKPLACE IS YOUR RIGHT!
To protect workers from heat stress, employers can:
- Provide clean water in convenient locations at all work areas.
- Schedule frequent rest and water breaks.
- Reduce work demands or scheduling heavy labor for cooler times.
- Ensure adequate air circulation in work areas (e.g. ventilation).
- Provide adequate and immediate medical response in the eventof heat stress.
SEE OSHA/NIOSH/ NOAA WEBSITES
DON’T “TOUGH IT OUT”... A SUPERVISOR (OR COWORKER) MUST TAKE YOU TO A COOLER AREA IMMEDIATELY IF YOU FEEL FAINT, DIZZY OR CONFUSED... IT IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!
Additional Resources:
- Water.Rest.Shade: OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers
- Protecting Workers from Heat Illness: OSHA/NIOSH Info sheet
- Heat: A Major Killer: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This Bulletin can be downloaded in English, Spanish, and French and easily printed by most computers to display in your Union Hall, breakrooms, and workplaces.