June 23, 2022

Your guide to keeping your employees safe in the Texas heat

With summer upon us, so are the heat-related hazards for outdoor workers and indoor workers in hot environments. Each year, heat exposure leads to thousands of work-related injuries and dozens of fatalities. These incidents can be prevented by understanding heat-illness prevention methods, early symptom recognition and basic first-aid procedures. See how you can be prepared and ensure you and your employees know what to do to stay safe in the summer heat.

What is the heat index and how do you read it?

The heat index is a measure that combines the air temperature and relative humidity, which tells us the temperature that our bodies perceive. This means that even though the temperature reads 99 degrees, it feels like 104 degrees outside because of the actual air and humidity. The heat index is a more accurate reflection of the climate and how it will affect you, which can help you prepare for working outdoors or in a hot environment.

Heat index	Risk level	Protective measures
Less than 91° F	Lower caution	Basic heat safety and planning
91° to 103° F	Moderate	Implement precautions and heighten awareness
103° to 115° F	High	Additional precautions to protect workers
Greater than 115° F	Very high to extreme	Triggers even more aggressive protective measures

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app, available in English and Spanish, features a heat index updated in real-time with safety information available at your fingertips.

What is heat illness?

Heat-related illnesses occur when the body becomes overheated because it is not able to lose enough heat to balance the heat generated by physical work and external sources like environmental conditions. There are six types of heat-related illnesses that can affect each person differently and progress quickly.

Types of heat-related illnesses

• Heat rash happens when the skin becomes irritated because sweat is not evaporating. The rash looks like clusters of red bumps and often occurs on the neck or upper chest.
• Heat cramps are caused by fluid and electrolyte loss. Sweating causes a loss of body salts, and when levels are low enough, it can lead to muscle cramps or pain in the abdomen, arms or legs.
• Heat syncope can happen after standing for extended periods of time or standing up suddenly from a seated position and can cause fainting, dizziness or light-headedness. Lack of acclimatization and dehydration can be contributing factors.
• Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) occurs when heat stress combines with prolonged physical exertion causing muscle breakdown. Symptoms include muscle cramps/pain, dark urine or weakness. If left untreated, it can result in irregular heart rhythms, seizures or kidney damage.
• Heat exhaustion can happen after heavy sweating causes a loss of water and salt. People with heat exhaustion normally experience a headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, a faster heartbeat and cool or clammy skin.
• Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, and it occurs when the body cannot regulate its temperature. When a person experiences a heat stroke, they can exhibit signs of confusion, lose consciousness and even hallucinate. Their body stops sweating and they may feel chills, exhibit slurred speech or have seizures. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated quickly.

What do you do when someone has heat-related illness symptoms?

If someone has signs of a heat-related illness, it’s important to:

• Move them somewhere cool and shaded as soon as possible. Ideally, you would move them into an air-conditioned space and allow them to rest and cool off. You may need to move them under a tree or somewhere with shade until a better solution can be found.
• Loosen any tight clothing and remove anything that’s unnecessary like shoes, socks, belts and personal protective equipment like vests or fall protection harnesses.
• Apply cool cloths or cold compresses to help their body’s temperature decrease.
• Cool down their body by fanning the person with a portable fan or any item that can be used to circulate cool air.
• Help them drink cool water at a slow but consistent pace. It’s important to replenish fluids steadily. For less severe illnesses, such as cramps, sports drinks can also help replenish nutrients.
• Get medical assistance if an employee’s heat cramps don’t subside within an hour or if any symptoms worsen. And as with any other injury or illness, don’t leave the employee to fend for themselves. Have someone take the employee to get medical attention.
• Call 911 immediately if a person shows signs of heat stroke such as confusion, fainting or seizures. While you wait for assistance, follow the other tips mentioned above. Someone should remain with the employee until help arrives.

How can employees protect themselves from the sun?

These three basic tips from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) can help you prevent a heat-related illness.

• Stay cool and stay indoors as much as possible. If you do need to be outside, try to limit your exposure to the sun and always wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing along with a hat and sunglasses to block out direct sunlight.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water consistently when working outdoors or in hot environments. The CDC recommends one cup of water every 15-20 minutes. If workers are outside for extended periods of time, sports drinks can help to balance electrolytes. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or that are high in sugar.
• Stay informed by checking your local weather and knowing the signs of heat-related illnesses. Use the buddy system to lookout for coworkers.

How can employers help prevent heat-related illnesses?

As an employer, you can help keep your employees safe in the heat by providing engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) and a heat illness prevention program. The hierarchy of controls below identifies what level of protection is needed based on the heat index.

Engineering controls deliver the most effective protection against heat illness by eliminating the hazard at its source. Examples of engineering controls include:

• Provide air conditioning and/or cooling fans.
• Increase ventilation.
• Install local exhaust ventilation, such as exhaust hoods in laundry rooms and other hot, moist workplaces.
• Redirect heat with reflective shields.
• Insulate hot surfaces, such as furnace walls.

Administrative controls are the second-most effective way to control heat illness by changing the way employees do their work to help reduce exposure to the hazard. Examples of administrative controls include:

• Promote water, rest and shade.
• Allow workers to acclimatize, or gradually get used to working in hot conditions.
• Modify work practices to reduce employee's heat exposure.
• Train workers to monitor themselves and their co-workers for signs of heat stress and to administer first aid when necessary.
• Conduct physiological monitoring of workers when necessary.
• Encourage workers to download the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the least-effective control against workplace hazards because it carries risk. PPE could be damaged, and it could give the user a false sense of security. So, PPE should always be your last line of defense against workplace hazards. The following are examples of PPE that can reduce heat exposure:

• Broad-brimmed hats with neck flaps.
• Light-colored, breathable clothing.
• Safety glasses with tinted, polarized lenses.
• Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• Water-cooled garments, air-cooled garments, cooling vests and wetted over-garments.
• Insulated gloves, insulated suits, reflective clothing and infrared reflecting face shields.
• Thermally conditioned clothing, such as a garment with a self-contained air conditioner in a backpack.
• A garment with a compressed air source that feeds cool air through a vortex tube.
• A plastic jacket with pockets filled with dry ice or containers of ice.

Heat illness prevention programs help to document and educate your employees on:

• The hazards of heat stress.
• Predisposing factors, danger signs and symptoms of heat illness.
• What to do in the event of an emergency.
• Employee’s responsibility in avoiding heat stress.
• The dangers of using drugs, including therapeutic ones and alcohol in hot work environments.
• How to properly use protective clothing and equipment.

For more tips on heat safety, log in to texasmutual.com and visit our safety resource center.