The UFCW’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Office has released several documents to help educate members about the risk factors for heat illnesses, what to do in an emergency, and who to contact at their local if their workplace does not have proper hot weather safety strategies in place. We need your help to get the word out to stewards and members to make sure no member is put in harm’s way to due to hot weather conditions.
With outside temperatures starting to soar, now is the time to make sure employers are taking the necessary steps to protect workers from heat stress and heat-related illnesses. All workers should have access to:
- Adequate amount of drinking water.
- Regular rest breaks or rest periods in a cool area.
- Adequate air circulation through the use of air conditioning, fans and general ventilation.
- Education on the early signs of heat-related illnesses.
- Time to acclimatize to the heat. It takes about one week for the body to adjust to working in the heat.
Hot Weather Safety Strategies Include:
- Training all management and hourly employees with an emphasis on how to recognize a medical emergency (heat stroke).
- Having a clearly written protocol on how to respond to a medical emergency.
- Training all management and hourly employees on workers’ right to access drinking water as needed, and the right to access bathrooms as needed.
- Monitoring particularly hot work areas and a plan in place for when the heat index approaches the Extreme Caution zone.
Download the following documents:
- Hot Weather Advisory Flyer
- Heat Advisory Letter
- Workplace Strategies for Hot Weather Safety
- OSHA Heat Stress Cards (English) (Spanish)
For more information about heat and heat-related illnesses, contact the UFCW’s OSH Office at 202-223-3111.
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