OSHA reminds greater Baltimore-area employers to protect workers from heat illness

BALTIMORE — With sweltering temperatures impacting the greater Baltimore area today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reminding employers to protect their workers from heat illness.

OSHA's FREE Heat Safety Tool App can calculate the heat index for a worksite, and displays a risk level to outdoor workers. With a simple click, users can get reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness. This FREE tool is available in English and Spanish.

Heat illness can be deadly. Three simple words can mean the difference between life and death: Water, Rest and Shade.

To prevent heat related illness and fatalities:

• Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.
• Rest in the shade to cool down.
• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
• Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.
• Keep an eye on fellow workers.
• "Easy does it" on your first days of work in the heat. You need to get used to it.

For more information about OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers, visit www.osha.gov/heat