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PalletCentral • July-August 2022
palletcentral.com
OSHA
By Adele L. Abrams, Esq., ASP, CMSP
Don't get burned by OSHA citations!
Keep employee welfare top of mind.
Heat Stress
PREVENTION
E
xtreme heat can be deadly, and
Bureau of Labor Statistics data show
it killed nearly 1,000 U.S. workers
and seriously injured more than
70,000 workers between 1992 and
2017. ose working outdoors in
the summer or in areas with extreme
temperatures year-round are particularly vulnerable
to heat illness, particularly workers who have long
hours and perform strenuous activities, but those
working indoor near heat sources or in buildings
without air conditioning can also be at risk. Experts
stress that heat illness causes many times more
workplace injuries than official records capture due
to related injuries from falls, being struck by vehicles,
and mishandling machinery due to heat stroke/stress
and related difficulties in concentration or fainting.
Data presented to the U.S. Congress in 2021
(UCLA study) found that on days when the
temperature is between 85F and 90F, overall risk
of injury (regardless of official cause) was 5 to 7%
higher than on days when temps were in 60s, and
when temperatures topped 100F, overall risk of
injury was 10 to 15% greater. ere is a cost to
employers as well. Increasing heat precipitated by
climate change can cause lost productivity and work
hours, resulting in large wage losses for workers.
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