Heat Illness can be prevented if we provide proper training and information to the worker to know how to prevent heat illness. But what information does the worker need to know? With the amount of effort, training and awareness that has taken place, which has been good to some extent, WE CAN DO BETTER.
We need to improve awareness, training, and employee understanding of the significance of their exposures and the potential for serious injury to themselves and family members. Trainings must start early in the season and use of more trainers conducting training with groups. There are more requirements of supervisory personnel and of the front line employees.
Supervisors must step up to the challenges that face them in the workplace. There is more documentation required in all areas of employment such as, hourly documentation, water replenishment, field hygiene, reminding outdoor workers to drink water throughout the day to drink water frequently, etc. Heat illness for most outdoor workers but also workers in hot environments is a serious issue that needs to be addressed by anyone in that type of environment.
The Graph above illustrates that there appears to be only minimal improvement over the past five years in reducing work heat related illness. Beginning in 2009, there were a total of 11 heat related deaths in the US. From 2009 to 2013, the lowest number of reported deaths due to heat illness occurred in 2013 with the number of deaths being 16. This represents an increase in heat related deaths to 45%. The highest number of recorded deaths during that same time period was 26 which is an increase of 236%. With such an increase in the number of deaths, not only can we do a better job, we must do a better job.
