heat (extreme heat, heat safety, heat illness, heat hazards)

July is Extreme Heat Awareness Month. One of the biggest hazards at this time of year is overheating. Outdoor and indoor heat exposure may cause heat-related illnesses and can lead to preventable fatalities.

When it comes to heat, workers have rights and protections. Here are some of the key protections you should know about to stay cool on the job.

All workers – and supervisors in particular – need to recognize the conditions of a “hot” job and should be provided heat-stress training on worker risk, prevention, symptoms, monitoring, treatment and personal protective equipment.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free, confidential occupational safety and health services to small- and medium-sized businesses nationwide. We asked Jason Evans, superintendent of Spanish Fort Water System in Spanish Fort, Alabama, to share more about his experience working with OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program partner, Alabama SafeState, to develop a heat illness prevention plan for the workplace.