Beat the heat with these tips

The heat of the summer months can bring risks for you and your policyholders. It’s important to remind your insureds to be prepared and know signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with the higher temperatures.

Risk factors for heat stress include:

• Direct sun exposure, high temperature and humidity, no breeze nor wind
• Heavy physical labor
• Waterproof clothing
• Dehydration

Recognizing symptoms of heat exhaustion is critical for employees within the workplace. These include:

• Headache, dizziness or fainting
• Weakness and wet skin
• Thirst, nausea or vomiting
• Irritability and confusion

Heat stroke is the most critical form of heat stress and, if not treated or prevented, can lead to a major medical emergency. Signs to watch for include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Lack of sweating
• Red, hot and dry skin
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Nausea and vomiting

To mitigate these risks, those who have employees working in the heat should implement preventive measures, especially in high-exposure workplaces:

• Provide training about the hazards that can lead to heat stress
• Establish a complete heat illness prevention program
• Provide plenty of cool water close to the work area
• Arrange frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas
• Designate a person responsible for monitoring conditions
• Consider protective clothing that provides cooling effects

Reminding insureds of these helpful tips can keep everyone cool and potentially minimize claims associated with heat stress. Contact your workers’ compensation safety and loss control consultant for more information.