The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is planning to set new standards to address the health and safety of employees who work in hot indoor environments. A new rule could protect workers in warehouses, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and locations where they are exposed to furnaces, ovens, and other sources of heat.
The process of developing new guidelines will start with a request for information. OSHA hopes to receive input from a wide range of stakeholders.
What Will the New Heat Standard Include?
It’s likely that OSHA will require employers to give workers breaks at specific intervals, provide access to air-conditioned areas, and give employees water while they are working in hot conditions. OSHA may also require companies to let new employees gradually acclimate to hot conditions, provide clothing that can help workers stay cool, and reduce the physical demands placed on employees who work in hot indoor environments.
How Can You Protect Your Employees in a Hot Indoor Workplace?
Even though OSHA has not yet implemented a set of rules to protect employees who work in hot indoor locations, there are steps that companies can take now to keep their workers safe and healthy. You should give your employees access to water and allow them to rest at specific intervals. They should be permitted to take breaks more often if needed and should be monitored for signs of heat-related illness, such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.
It’s also important to have employees and managers who are trained in first aid at the jobsite at all times. If a co-worker recognizes that a person is suffering from exposure to intense heat and needs help, that individual can provide first aid. Often, receiving care before an ambulance arrives prevents a condition from worsening.
Providing first aid training for your employees is also a smart business investment. Prompt first aid may prevent a lengthy hospital stay and absence, which can ultimately protect the company’s profits.
Order First Aid Kits and Schedule Training for Your Workers
No matter what type of business you operate, you should have at least one first aid kit or cabinet in a place where employees will be able to reach supplies quickly when they need them. A kit should include basics, such as bandages, gauze, and antiseptic cream. It should also have products that can be used to treat heat-related conditions, such as cold packs and burn cream.
1st Aid Supplies offers first aid kits and cabinets that include these types of supplies, plus many more. You can order one or more kits or cabinets based on the size of your business and the number of employees you have. Look through our selection of first aid supplies and place an order today.
