Heating Up: Time for Water, Rest and Shade

The summer heat is on, so OSHA is reminding employers and workers about heat illness hazards and to take the necessary precautions when working outdoors. Those steps include gradually increasing shift lengths so workers can adapt to hot environments, providing frequent water breaks, allowing ample time to rest, and providing shade.

OSHA’s Heat Safety Campaign website raises awareness of heat illness and its prevention and offers links to educational and training resources. It also links to a free smartphone app that allows users to calculate the heat index for their location and provides reminders about what to do to prevent heat illness. Employers and safety professionals are encouraged to use the website to share examples of how they are keeping workers safe in the heat. Stories can be emailed to HeatSafetyTips@dol.gov for possible inclusion on the site. Heat tips and photos also can be shared on Twitter using the hashtags #WaterRestShade and #ProTips.