But protecting workers from heat stress and other heat-related illnesses is easier said than done. That’s especially true when it comes to new employees, contractors, and full-timers returning from vacations. These employees are often more at risk than other workers when working temperatures are high. Some of heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke and heat exhaustion, can be fatal without immediate attention. Others, like fainting, heat cramps, and heat rashes, are temporary but still need to be taken seriously. As a safety manager, you can help prevent heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses on the job by taking the right steps. Heat Affects Both Workers and Equipment 
It’s common for employees in the hard hat industries to battle high temperatures while working outside, especially in places like New York City and Los Angeles. But employees who work inside also must be weary of the heat during a work day. For example, heating and air-conditioning contractors often work in temperatures of 120°F/49°C or more while in a homeowner’s attic or a high-rise’s crawl space. Equipment is also at risk in the heat. High temperatures can reduce the elasticity of seals and sealants, causing equipment failure. That can seriously injure employees, driving up a company’s compensation costs and reducing profitability. New workers and temporary employees are most at risk for heat-related illnesses during the summer—a big problem in certain industries like construction. Hundreds of veteran workers left the industry seeking other employment opportunities after the economic downturn of 2008. Many of these workers haven’t returned to the industry, creating a labor shortage. That, in turn, is forcing construction companies to hire inexperienced workers to compensate for the lack of labor. Many of these new employees have little experience working outside in the sun and are at risk for heat stress. 
An OSHA investigation of 25 heat stress and heat-related incidents in 2005 found that almost half of the cases involved a worker on his or her first day on the job, while 80% of these cases involved workers who had only been on the job for four or fewer days. These workers failed to recognize the symptoms of heated-related illnesses thanks in large part to a lack of training by the employer. Using onboarding software to train employees on the dangers of working in the heat before they start work reduces the risk of new workers suffering heat exhaustion, heat stress, and other heat-related illnesses. Best Practices for Preventing Heat-related Illnesses Below are seven best practices that safety managers can employ to help employees battle the dangers of working in high temperatures. Safety managers should implement them in addition to creating an emergency plan that spells out what to do if there’s a problem. These measures are cost-effective solutions and easy to implement at job sites: 1. Train workers — Training is critical for any employee that works in the heat. Some topics you can cover in training sessions include:- Types of heat-related illnesses
- How heat impacts the body during intensive labor
- How to prevent heat stroke
- Signs of heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses
- Steps to take if a worker is experiencing heat stress
- Importance of getting acclimated to a working climate
Encouraging workers to watch out for one another, reminding employees to report incidences when they feel uncomfortable, and equipping supervisors with iPads so they can monitor heat and humidity are additional best practices during the summer. Managers can also use the iPads to access safety apps relating to heat stress, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses for educating and coaching employees. Implementing these best practices will protect workers from high working temperatures, help reduce compensation costs, and increase profitability. What are the risk factors of working in high temperatures? Download the free ebook to find out and learn how to protect your workers on-site! 
