• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Onsite Clinic
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Support Services
  • Resources
    • Press Releases
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

Physical Hazards: Summertime, Work, and Risk Mitigation

    Home Health Tips Physical Hazards: Summertime, Work, and Risk Mitigation
    Next Previous
    Physical Hazards: Summertime, Work, and Risk Mitigation

    Physical Hazards: Summertime, Work, and Risk Mitigation

    By Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider | Comments are Closed | 14 July, 2021 0

    Depending on their geographic location, summertime can expose workers to physical hazards they don’t encounter at other times of the year. It is important for employers to recognize these hazards and mitigate risks associated with each of them by taking preventive, protective measures.

    Summertime Physical Hazards

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines physical hazards as “factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily touching it.” Examples of physical hazards include radiation (including radiation from sunlight/UV waves and radioactive particles released from soil and rock); loud noises; lightning; and extreme temperatures.

    Extreme heat, particularly in the summer, is often a concern for employer and employees. Summer temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses, ranging from mild illness to those with serious impacts on the overall health of a worker. Heat-related illnesses include cramps, rashes, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Symptoms may include clusters of pimples or blisters on the skin, cramps/pain, dizziness/fainting/light-headedness, headache, nausea, irritability, extreme thirst, decreased urine output, heavy sweating, confusion, slurred speech, and even seizures. Effective work practices can help reduce a worker’s chance of a heat-related illness and employers should consider a heat illness prevention plan.

    Tips to mitigate risks associated with working during hot weather employers and employees include:

    • Communication, especially among outdoor workers, can be achieved with regular meetings, two-way radios, cell phones, and walkie-talkies. Supervisors should observe employees during the day and monitor for any heat-related illness symptoms. Supervisors should also encourage reporting symptoms. Employees should be trained on signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and have a “buddy system” to help watch out for each other when working in hot conditions. Solo employees should “check in” at regular intervals throughout the day.
    • Utilizing engineering controls. Hot weather isn’t just a threat to outdoor workers. Employers with workers in indoor environments where there is little or no air conditioning should increase air circulation inside with fans and install heat absorbing/reflective barriers in buildings. Engineering controls can also be implemented to reduce humidity in the environment.
    • Implementing and following best work practices. Workers should limit time in the heat and increase time in cooler environments. Employers can help reduce the worker time in the heat by increasing the number of workers per task and adjusting work schedules to avoid the hottest time of the day. Supervisors should provide adequate amounts forms of hydration to employees and encourage breaks to avoid dehydration. Workers out in the heat for fewer than two hours per shift should drink at least 8 ounces of water every 15–20 minutes. Employers should ensure workers are acclimatized to their environment. Acclimatization is achieved by gradually increasing the time the worker is in hot environments.

    Physical Hazard Resources:

    • First Aid for Heat Illness
    • NIOSH Acclimatization Fact Sheet
    • OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App
    • Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments
    • NIOSH Prevent Heat Related Illness Poster

    This article is for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies. 

    References

    California Department of Industrial Relations, “Heat Illness Prevention eTool,” April 2018.
    California Department of Industrial Relations, “Effective Communication: Preventing and Responding to Heat Illness.”
    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), “Heat Stress – Recommendations,” June 6, 2018.
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration, hazard handout

    Authored by: Ashley Clay

    Share
    dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, physical hazards, radiation, safety, safety tips

    Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    More posts by Ashley Clay, MSPAS, PA-C, Medcor Provider

    Related Post

    • How Drinking Soda Impacts Your Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      Soda pairs almost too well with salty snacks to quench your thirst. The sweet taste is satisfying, and it is available almost anywhere you go. But the convenient option is not the healthiest option, soRead more

      Share

    • Ladder Safety Month

      By Danielle Olipra

      March is National Ladder Safety Month and as always, Medcor is thinking about all the hard workers we support and their safety on the job. Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the constructionRead more

      Share

    • Healthy Habits For Your Heart

      By Danielle Olipra

      February is National Heart Month. The World Health Organization reports cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, killing over 17 million people each year. The principles that guide you to a healthyRead more

      Share

    • Common Steps to Manage Diabetes

      By Danielle Olipra

      It is estimated by the CDC that over 34 million Americans have diabetes, and over the last 20 years, the number of U.S. adults diagnosed with diabetes has doubled due to increasing obesity, inactivity, andRead more

      Share

    • Your Workspace and Your Health

      By Danielle Olipra

      You spend a lot of time in your workspace, but have you thought about using your workspace to give you the best foundation to do your job? You could be setting yourself up for betterRead more

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Recent Posts

    • How Drinking Soda Impacts Your Health
    • Ladder Safety Month
    • Healthy Habits For Your Heart
    • Common Steps to Manage Diabetes
    • Your Workspace and Your Health
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Insights

    • The ROI of Onsite Medical Clinics in the Construction Industry
      May 23, 2023
    • The Cost of Not Investing in Employee Wellbeing Programs
      May 17, 2023
    • What is Mental Health First Aid and How Can Companies Implement it?
      April 12, 2023

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442


    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright © 2023 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Onsite Clinic
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor