Warm Weather is Here - Avoid Sun-Related Injuries

May is tomorrow and that means Summer is knocking on the door. With warmer, nicer weather, it only means more construction workers will be spending more of their time outdoors. The costs associated for preparing for sun and heat exposure is far less than those expenses paid for injuries or illness, even absences that occur due to the heat.

According to Construction Business Owner Magazine:

"The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) has no specific regulations addressing employer responsibility for heat- and sun-related hazards.  However, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) rule does state that employers must provide both protective equipment and employee training to workers if they work under certain conditions.  Sunlight and heat-common enemies in the construction industry-are included in these environmental hazards. at least one OSHA Standard Interpretation of PPE specifically requires employers to protect their employees from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun."

Working outdoors is not completely unavoidable, but there are a few steps you can take to minimize exposure and risk:

• Schedule shifts to maximize the hours worked before or after the peak sun times of the day

• Provide and require employees to wear PPE; UV-resistant sunglasses and hats with wide brims are recommended and a good start
• Educate your employees on prevention and early detection of heat exhaustion, dehydration and skin cancer

To  read more of this article and to better educate yourself on the summer risks, check out the full article here.