A heat wave is sweeping the nation, and more are sure to follow this summer and maybe into fall. This is also the time of year when an increase in construction and other outdoor work require people to be in the unrelenting heat and sun all day.
Sanitation workers, roofers, landscapers, firefighters, farm workers and more are at risk of serious heat-related conditions throughout the country. Only a handful of states have codified standards that mandate heat protections for outdoor workers. Kentucky and Ohio are not among them.
It’s important to recognize the warning signs
A spokesperson for Louisville Parks and Recreation, whose employees also have to deal with long hours outdoors in the heat, says it’s important for everyone to recognize the signs of heat-related illness in their co-workers and “look out for each other.”
Things like dry mouth, nausea, dizziness can be early warning signs of serious conditions like heat stroke, heat exhaustion and even kidney damage. Aside from the damage that these conditions can do to the body, they can also cause falls and other injuries. Heat-related illnesses can be fatal.
Employers are responsible for their workers’ safety
Regardless of whether there are state or local regulations in place to help protect workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries, employers have an obligation to provide the safest possible environment for their workers. This includes personal protective equipment (PPE) like head and neck coverings, plenty of water and adequate shade and rest breaks.
If a worker does suffer a heat-related condition that requires medical treatment and perhaps some time off work, it’s crucial that they know how to apply for workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical care and a portion of lost wages. Anyone who believes they’ve been wrongfully denied these benefits can help protect their rights by getting sound legal guidance.