Dive Brief:
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a roofing contractor in Jefferson City, MO, $12,471 in relation to a heat-exposure death on one of its job sites.
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The agency said a 47-year-old worker — on his third day on the job — collapsed with a core body temperature of more than 107 F after installing roofing material when the heat index was at 90 F. He died a day later at the hospital.
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OSHA also cited the contractor, Weathercraft Inc., with one serious violation for not adhering to OSHA's General Duty Clause, which requires employers to maintain a hazard-free workplace.
Dive Insight:
New workers are particularly susceptible to heat-related injury and death when employers do not give them time to become acclimated to outside temperatures. "Workers should have frequent access to water, rest and shade to prevent heat illness and injuries during the hot summer months … and be trained to recognize and respond to the signs of heat-related illness," Karena Lorek, acting director at OSHA's Kansas City, MO, office, said in a release.
OSHA said it is a common misconception that someone who is sweating cannot be suffering from heatstroke. It advised co-workers and supervisors to be on the lookout for workers who are experiencing mental shifts, such as becoming easily agitated or acting confused.
If an employee is suspected of suffering heatstroke, someone should call emergency services immediately and follow the measures outlined in OSHA's Heat Stress Quick Card. This provides information on heat-related symptoms and prevention. The agency also offers a Heat Safety Tool app.
In preparation for job site heat incidents, OSHA suggests that employers:
- Train job site personnel on how to recognize, report and respond to heat-related illness
- Direct supervisors to conduct evaluations of those who claim to be suffering from heat-related illnesses
- Establish workplace rules that encourage employees to report heat-stress illnesses