Four Summer Workplace Safety Tips for National Safety Month

In 1996, the National Safety Council (NSC) designated June, National Safety Month, to raise public awareness of the summer season’s most prominent safety and health risks and to decrease heat-related health incidents.

While safety is a year-round concern, during the summer months, it’s imperative to have a heightened awareness of appropriate workplace safety practices.  Here are our top four tips to help ensure your teams stay cool, healthy, and productive during the coming months.

1. Recognize the Signs of Heat Stress

In hot, humid working conditions, subtle symptoms of heat stress can quickly develop into life-threatening conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Here are the symptoms to be aware of:

• Thirst
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Feelings of weakness or exhaustion
• Excessive sweating or lack of sweating
• Low urine production
• Muscle cramps or convulsions
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, confusion, or unconsciousness

If you notice any of these symptoms while working in hot or humid conditions, seek immediate help.

2. Maintain Proper Hydration

Heavy, long-term sweating causes dehydration and nutrient loss, both of which can potentially lead to heat stress or illness. Maintain proper hydration by:

• Frequently drinking water
• Seeking shade whenever possible
• Drinking electrolyte-replenishing sports drinks any time you will be in the heat for more than two hours
• Limiting your consumption of caffeinated drinks, as they can cause dehydration

3. Dress Appropriately

The warm summer months require you to dress appropriately for both hot weather and hot working conditions. To help stay cool, consider wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing whenever possible. If your job requires PPE, especially if it is heavy and must be worn in a hot environment, extra precautions should be taken with such equipment in the summer. Cooling products and garments made of wicking fabrics can help keep your body temperature down in the heat. Consider wearing:

• Cooling headgear
• Ice-pack vests
• Water- and air-cooled garments
• Cooling suits
• Heat-reflective aprons

4. Acclimate to the Heat

Having a plan to gradually adapt yourself to hot or humid working conditions is one of the best ways to prevent heat stress. Reduce heat stress by:

• Gradually increasing your heat exposure time outside of work
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly