It’s Hot! Here’s How to Stay Cool, Safe.
July 26, 2016
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Even though most heat-related deaths are preventable, heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States. With sweltering temperatures and high humidity continuing throughout the U.S. and Canada, please take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses at home, play and work.
The body cools itself through perspiration, but during hot and humid weather sweating isn’t enough. Your body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if you don’t drink enough water and rest in the shade. Summertime heat also increases the risk of heat-related death for the elderly and other vulnerable populations, including young children who need to be reminded to come in out of the sun and drink plenty of water.
“To put it simply: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate,” said IAM Safety and Health Director Jim Reid. “Workers exposed to extreme heat on the job must understand the dangers and look out for themselves, and those next to them.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has tips for workers and employers to recognize and prevent heat illness. Click here for OSHA’s Quick Card for protecting workers from heat stress.
With IAM members working in on blazing airport tarmacs and stifling manufacturing plants this summer, risks of suffering heat exhaustion and heat stroke escalate. The IAM participates in OSHA’s Airline Ground Safety Panel, which publishes Toolbox Talk, a resource specific to airport worker safety.
In an effort to provide all members with access to the latest information on how to insure a safe and healthy work environment, the IAM Safety and Health Department has assembled a list of helpful web links for specific issues and jobs.
