Tag: heat stress

Cal/OSHA Cautions Employers on Heat Hazards

With high temperatures expected throughout California, on May 23, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) reminded employers of outdoor workers to be prepared and take the necessary precautions to prevent heat illnesses. California has a state standard requiring that employers develop and implement written heat illness prevention plans, provide fresh water and […]

OSHA Regional Offices Issue Heat Cautions

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regional offices in Boston and Dallas have publicly cautioned employers within the past week to protect workers from the hazards of excessive heat. OSHA’s efforts in the past year to address workplace heat hazards have included a national emphasis program (NEP) of outreach, inspection, and enforcement, as well as […]

OSHA Launches Heat Stress Enforcement Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched an indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards National Emphasis Program (NEP). Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh unveiled the NEP on April 13 with Vice President Kamala Harris at a public event at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 Training Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   OSHA plans to initiate […]

Best of ’21: EHS On Tap

As the year winds down, we’re taking a look this week at some highlights from 2021. Today, we’re highlighting episodes from our EHS On Tap podcast. March 8: E65 For International Women’s Day, EHS on Tap Interviews Four WISE Women To mark International Women’s Day, a global event created to celebrate (and elevate) the social, […]

What to Expect From OSHA’s New Focus on Heat Stress

Will you be ready when an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspector shows up at your facility or worksite for a heat-related illness inspection? Have you thought about how you would comply with a new federal heat stress standard? On September 20, the White House and OSHA announced new steps to address worker exposures […]

OSHA Launches Heat Stress Initiatives

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) September 20 announced “enhanced and expanded efforts” to address worker exposures to excessive heat and heat-related illnesses. The agency will develop a National Emphasis Program (NEP) and workplace heat standards, according to a White House announcement of interagency efforts to address heat hazards. An advance notice of proposed […]

Heat, Humidity, and Five Other Factors That Contribute to Heat Stress

Heat-related hazards injured 2,061 and killed 884 people in 2019, according to the National Safety Council. As responsible employers recognize and develop policies or plans to reduce risk to employees who must work in hot and humid conditions, more than just heat and humidity need to be considered. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), […]

Acclimatization is Important to Avoiding Heat Stress

Heat stress is a major concern for many different workplaces across the U.S. One important way to help workers deal with the heat is acclimatization, which is where the person becomes better able to handle hot conditions after gradual increased exposure to a hot environment. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers […]

Facemask in heat, summer work

Summer Hazards—Including COVID-19—Are in Full Swing

Employers now must address a host of summer workplace hazards while continuing to protect workers in an ongoing pandemic. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is widespread in most U.S. communities and considered a workplace hazard.

Get Ready for a Safe Summer of Working in the Heat

Heat is the invisible factor that affects your workforce. This summer and in the summers to come, temperatures are only projected to get hotter and more variable, so it’s increasingly important to know how to keep your employees safe while they work in the heat.