For the fourth consecutive year, OSHA has announced the launch of its annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers [1]. It is aimed at raising awareness and educating workers and employers about the potential damage to work in a hot climate, providing resources and guidance to address these hazards. Workers who are at particularly high risk are those who work in industries that develop outdoors, such as agriculture, construction, landscaping and transportation.
Heat illness initially may manifest as heat rash or heat cramps, but can quickly escalate to heat exhaustion and then heat stroke if simple preventative measures are not followed. Heat illness disproportionately affects those who have not built up a tolerance to heat (acclimatization), and it is especially dangerous for new and temporary workers [2].
Last year, OSHA issued 11 heat-related citations. In some of these cases, the employer and staffing agency were cited because they involved temporary workers.
OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials in English [3] and Spanish [4], as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training, also available in both English [5] and Spanish [6]. Additionally, a Web page [7] provides information and resources on heat illness—including how to prevent it and what to do in case of an emergency—for workers and employers.
OSHA also has released a free application for mobile devices [8] that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites. The app displays a risk level for workers based on the heat index, as well as reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level. Since its 2011 launch, more than 130,000 users have downloaded the app.
Educational Resources
Illustrated, low-literacy fact sheets
These heat safety factsheets are designed to be low-literacy, easy to read and understand. The factsheets are available English [9], Spanish [10], Hmong [11], and Punjabi [12].
How to report a problem to Cal/OSHA
This guide on how to report a problem with Cal-OSHA provides workers with the information they need to file a report. The guide is available in English [13] and Spanish [14].
A Heat Safety DVD
A 9-minute DVD that discusses preventing and responding to heat illness - featuring workers from three occupations (agriculture, construction, and landscaping work) and including Spanish-, Mixteco-, Punjabi-, and Hmong-speaking workers. (Audio options are available in these four languages as well as English.) Comes with a discussion guide so that you can lead a short discussion after watching the DVD. This DVD comes with multiple languages including English, Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi, and Mixteco.
DVD Discussion Guides
Designed to accompany the DVD, this DVD guide can be useful in facilitating a discussion about heat illness. It is available in English [15], Spanish [16], and Punjabi [17]).
Community Training Guides
An easy-to-follow illustrated 11 X 17 flipchart guide – leads the trainer through a heat awareness training, and provides visuals for workers. These guides are available in English and Spanish.
Employer Training Kit [18]
Designed for employers, this training kit, when combined with training on your company’s specific procedures, is designed to help employers meet compliance with the Heat Illness Prevention standard. Includes fact sheets for workers, as well as posters and a training guide for the trainer to use. Also comes with a Supervisor’s Daily Checklist, that reminds employers of what’s needed at the worksite each day.
Community Posters
Help post and distribute posters throughout your community. Posters are available in English [19], Spanish [20], Hmong [21], and Punjabi [22].