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Heat-Related Illnesses a Risk to Outdoor Workers

By Frank Verderame | July 8, 2012

About 1,400 Arizonans receive emergency medical treatment for heat-related illnesses every year, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Among those, 30 to 80 people – more than 70 percent of them men – die each summer, when temperatures are highest.

To combat this problem, SCF Arizona, the state’s leading workplace safety advocate and the largest provider of workers compensation insurance, reminds outdoor workers every year of the dangers posed by scorching heat. The organization’s online video “Heat Stress” explains the phases of heat illness and how to recognize and prevent symptoms. It is offered free to employers throughout the state, according to Willcoxrangenews.com.

Tips to Avoid Heat-related Illness

Heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, often include symptoms such as a rapid, strong pulse, headache, hot but dry skin, nausea, dizziness and confusion. To help employees avoid heat-related illness:

  • Help workers avoid dehydration by keeping fluids on hand. Outdoor workers should drink 5 to 7 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes to stay hydrated.
  • Schedule the toughest work for the coolest times of the day
  • Keep workloads evenly distributed throughout the day
  • Require workers to wear protective equipment designed for working in the heat
  • Rotate workers from hot to cooler areas when possible
  • Schedule short, frequent work and rest cycles to keep workers from overheating
  • Monitor workers for signs of heat illness
  • Advise employees to ask their doctors if their medications make them susceptible to heat illness

If you have been injured due to a heat-related illness, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney about the options available to you. You may be able to recover compensation while you recover.

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