SafeDE News

For workers in many industries, personal protective equipment (PPE) is just as much a part of the workday as the work itself. But what happens when staying safe on the job seems to conflict with staying cool? 

As temperatures rise and the days get longer, combatting the heat is an increasingly crucial part of workplace safety across the US. When a person is exposed to high temperatures and humidity, they may develop a heat illness.

Workers who spend long hours under the sun are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Laborers in the construction, utilities, and postal service industries are at increased risk, especially those working in warmer climates.

The initial days of working in hot or warm environments pose the highest risk of fatalities due to the body's need to gradually adapt to the heat, a process known as heat acclimatization. This risk applies to both indoor and outdoor workers who lack acclimatization.