Summer is coming. That means you need to start preparing to protect your workers against heat-related illnesses, especially if they work outside or inside in kitchens, boiler rooms, trailers or other hot spots. One of the most important measures to take is education. This article will show you how to create a memo showing workers how to recognize and respond to the three most common forms of heat-related illness: Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. There's also a model memo members can access in the Tools section of SafetyXChange. You can also use the model memo as a notice or reminder and post it at strategic points in your workplace where people doing hot work can see it.

A Three-Pronged Strategy for Beating the Heat

There are three kinds of measures necessary to protect workers against heat-related illnesses:

Implementing engineering controls like ventilation and air-conditioning systems at your workplace;

Adopting safe work practices like scheduling physically demanding jobs during the coolest parts of the day and allowing for frequent breaks; and

Educating workers about and sensitizing them to the risks of heat-related illnesses.

The education piece is especially important because heat illnesses can be lethal in a sneaky way. Victims often don't realize they're in danger until it's too late. And co-workers don't know how to treat the illness and thus lose the vital last chance to save the victim.

How to Create Memo

There's no single "best" way to train workers about heat-related illnesses. But the Model Memo in the Tools section is an effective approach. Like our Model Memo, your notice should:

1. Promote Awareness

The first thing you need to do is get workers' attention. Warn workers who perform "hot jobs" of the dangers of heat-related illnesses. Stress that such illnesses can be life-threatening. Tell workers that they need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of such illnesses to save their own lives and that of their co-workers.

2. Describe Symptoms

Next, list the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses so workers can recognize if they or a co-worker are falling victim. Cover heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

3. Explain How to Respond

It's vital to tell workers how to respond if they detect signs of heat-related illnesses. These illnesses can be lethal if not properly and immediately treated. So providing response information can literally mean the difference between life and death.

4. Recommend Preventive Measures

Last but not least, list what workers should do to protect themselves against the onset of heat-related illness, such as wearing loose clothing made of cotton and other cooler fabrics and drinking plenty of water to keep themselves hydrated.

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