The Heat Is Proving Fatal To Workers

In case you haven’t already figured it out, this is one of the hottest summers on record….I bet Al Gore is so proud.  On a serious note, the heat on the job site has caused numerous illnesses and some deaths, causing government officials to issue warnings to employers and employees to be diligent about beating the heat. “July was hottest on record in most of the U.S., and it’s important for all employers and workers to be aware of this,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. “The symptoms of heat are often not easily recognizable.”  OSHA has just launched a campaign to hopefully prevent some of the illnesses and heat complications on the job.  It’s got a simple message: “Water. Rest. Shade. The work can’t get done without them.” Now, if you’re like this old disc jockey and the hottest part of your job is the walk from the car to your office, use those same principals with your recreational activities.  On the flip side, the folks who have some of the hottest jobs in the summer include:

• Roofers: Roofers had the highest rate of non-lethal injuries related to heat, at about six workers out of every 10,000 full-time employees in 2009.
• Baggage handler: The scheduled passenger air transport category, which includes mainly baggage handlers, had the second-highest rates of injury related to heat in 2009.
• Foundry worker: Foundries can be extremely hot workplaces because heating of materials including metals. Even though the industry only employs about 10,000 workers, there are fatalities every year.
• Road crew: Many municipalities try to conduct roadwork at night in the summer to help workers beat the heat, but the job is still considered a top concern by OSHA.
• Farm workers: Agriculture has a high incidence of heat-related injuries, and farm workers in particular can be the most susceptible.