PROTECT YOUR EMPLOYEES This summer has already been hot, and the heat is here to stay for the foreseeable future. This summer in Utah brought above-average temperatures, with little rain for relief. It’s safe to say we are in the dog days of summer. As temperatures rise, proactively addressing the working conditions of your employees is vital. The extreme heat can take a toll on workers. The risk of them developing dangerous heat-related conditions is all too real. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stress, heat stroke and other hazards are serious yet preventable medical conditions. According to OSHA, thousands of workers become sick from heat exposure every year, with a number having fatal results. Nearly three out of four workers who die from heat exposure are in their first week of work. These employees have not had time to adjust to working in the heat, and that is an avoidable tragedy. That raises the question, what can you, as an employer, do to help prevent heat-related illness among the workforce? Under federal law, OSHA states that employers always have a duty to keep their workplace free of known hazards. “This includes protecting workers from heat-related hazards,” according to the OSHA website. This standard applies to both outdoor and indoor work. While some states have specific laws governing occupational heat exposure, Utah has adopted most federal OSHA standards ON HIGH‑HEAT DAYS 23
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==