In an effort to advocate for workplace heat safety standards, a group of product developers and experts has formed the National Heat Safety Coalition (NHSC).
The NHSC was founded by cooling gear developer Mission, personal protective equipment manufacturer Magid, and the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, which provides research, education, and advocacy about heat stroke prevention.
“Every day in the United States labor workers are seriously injured or die from heat stress, nearly all of which can be prevented,” according to the NHSC website. “Heat safety strategies are effective and easy to implement, yet they are grossly underutilized within many laborer settings. We want to help businesses enhance their safety program with heat-safety protocols to ensure every employee returns home safely to their families.”
The group develops resources for employers, supervisors, and workers about creating and implementing an occupational heat safety plan, identifying risks for heat illness, and what to do in a heat-related emergency. The NHSC offers services including heat safety plan review, on-site heat safety assessments, educational services, and research partnerships.
“We develop and implement comprehensive heat safety solutions for organizations and their employees,” according to the site. “The NHSC provides heat-safety research, education, and awareness; advises on heat-safety solutions in a variety of laborer settings; and advocates for heat-safety consensus standards and recommendations.”