Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Injuries on Construction Job Sites

Did you know that heat kills more people in the U.S. every year than hurricanes, tornados, or flooding? The construction industry is especially impacted by heat since work is often performed outdoors in less-than-ideal temperatures and conditions. However, hazardous heat exposure can occur indoors or outdoors and during any season, not only during heat waves. Fortunately, safety measures can be put into place to prevent serious illness and fatalities due to heat exposure.

It is important to provide regular training on heat illness to all employees. Make sure you train them in a language and format they understand. Workers should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat illness and know how to respond. If a worker experiences symptoms like a headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness, or elevated body temperature, it’s extremely important to cool them down. Symptoms of heat illness can intensify if actions are not taken to hydrate, rest, and cool down. Minor symptoms of heat illness could quickly become more severe if not treated promptly. If a worker experiences signs of a medical emergency, such as abnormal behavior, slurred speech, seizures, or fainting, you must act immediately. Call 911 and cool the worker right away with water or ice. If possible, move the person to a cooler or shaded area. 

Workers need to build up a heat tolerance. According to OSHA, nearly three out of four fatalities from heat illness occur in the first week of work. Start by allowing no more than 20% of the shift in full sun intensity and increase this amount by approximately 20% each day. It may take two weeks or more to fully acclimate to working in the heat. It's also important to allow workers to take frequent rest breaks. Breaks should be long enough for workers to recover from heat given their activity level, the temperature, and the humidity.

Consider scheduling the most laborious tasks during the early parts of the day where temperatures are cooler. Construction companies should also consider extending deadlines and expecting delays due to hot temperatures. Contractors in the northern states often need to do this for colder temperatures, and this same method should be used for all extreme temperatures and weather conditions. 

The OSHA website provides many helpful resources that address the seriousness of heat dangers at work: https://www.osha.gov/heat. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to keep your employees safe at work. Plan for high temperature days and take action to prevent heat-related illness.