Millions of Americans sweat their way through the work week. Ask anyone from welders to construction workers to Factory Employees much like the majority of our membership. Extremely hot and humid working conditions are a fact of life in many workplaces in the United States including New York State summers. If your one of those getting hot under the collar at work this summer, you should be aware of the health problems associated with laboring in extreme heat. In rare cases, heat can be deadly. Heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s regulatory system fails and your body temperature rises to high, can cause brain damage or death. Extreme heat can also lead to on-the-job accidents as well as less serious ills like cramps, prickly heat, and heat exhaustion.
Here are some tips for anyone whose job feels to hot to handle
1) Drink fluids. Water or any cool liquid (non-alcoholic) should be readily available at all times. Workers should be encouraged to drink about 8 ounces every 20 minutes. Electrolyte solutions may be helpful in maintaining body fluids.
2) Seek out cool rest areas and take frequent breaks. Research shows that taking a break in a rest area 76 degrees F. can significantly reduce the chance of Heat Stress.
3) Wear comfortable clothing. When the temperature of the work environment is higher than your normal body temperature (98.6 F), your protective clothing can help prevent the transfer of heat from the air around you to your body. Choose carefully, if clothes interfere with the evaporation of sweat, the advantage can be cancelled out.
4) Open windows where possible, install fans or air handlers to create air movement. Insulate any heat creating devices such as ovens, furnaces, in your work area.
Also let’s not forget about off-the-job activities
When your home or out and about, make sure you protect
yourself from the heat. Your best bets are to avoid doing any strenuous
activities such as yard work, exercising, until it cools off early in the
evening. Older adults and pregnant women are especially sensitive to
overheating. My favorite place to hide out to beat the heat is in an
air-conditioned movie theater or the mall. Also swimming is a great way to beat
the heat and get a little exercise too.
Remember to protect your eyes and skin from the harmful
rays of the sun. When you head outdoors for that picnic, hike, or the beach make
sure you pack the sunscreen. A factor 30 UVA & UVB is the best, and look for
sun glasses that block 99% to 100% of the UV rays or that have a rating that
states they filter 400nm UV rays. You can also wear a wide brimmed hat to help
keep the suns harmful rays off your face. So protect yourself this summer and
enjoy the beautiful weather while its here. Soon I’ll be writing about how to
safely rake leaves and snow blower operation safety tips. Have a Great Summer!
Andre'
Any questions or comments to the Presidents Corner may be sent via e-mail to president@local36g.org