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FROM THE DESK OF RANDALL A. KROCKA
SMOHIT Administrator
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With the arrival of summer, here's valuable information from our friends at CPWR about the best ways to handle the summer heat.
The Heat Is On
In May, U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Houston experienced 90°+ temperatures for days on end. Those of us outside the Southwest can expect to see the mercury rising this month. The heat is on, and it's time for those of us who work outdoors to think about heat safety.
On May 22, OSHA kicked off its annual effort to fight heat illness, reminding employers that they have the power to prevent thousands of cases of heat exhaustion (and even save dozens of lives!) this summer by offering employees periodic water, rest and shade breaks.
Meanwhile, CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training provides free online access to critical resources workers and employers can use to stay safe during the summer heat. You can find them in three different online homes:
- At www.cpwr.com you can find a simple and straightforward toolbox talk on preventing heat illness. It's a printable, two-sided document with a graphic illustration on the front and a short, interactive script on the back. A presenter can hold the graphic up for view while referring to the notes.
- At Construction Solutions, CPWR's online source for construction contractors addressing common occupational hazards, you can find an entire heat stress program - and also information on specially designed PPE like cooling vests.
- And in eLCOSH, the electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health, we have collected dozens of items from a variety of sources addressing heat exposure, from OSHA's Quick Card on Heat Stress to a Heat Training Guide produced by the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley.
Keep cool out there!
Pete Stafford
Executive Director
CPWR
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