Today is the first 100-degree day of the year. The warm weather presents outside workers with the need to protect themselves from increasing sun and heat exposure. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that you take a few simple steps to protect yourself:
Over-exposure to the sun can lead to premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, and cataracts. Here are a few tips to avoid sun exposure:
- Cover up. Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Be sure to follow the application directions on the bottle or tube.
- Wear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap, works best because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.
OSHA recommends staying hydrated, even while working in shaded areas.
If you become over-heated, you are at greater exposure to heat-related disorders. These include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Here are a few tips to help avoid heat exposure:
- Drink small amounts of water frequently.
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing—cotton is good.
- Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
There is a new, mandatory training material that has been assigned to all applicable employees. Please visit RoseU to explore this information before the hot weather grabs a hold on Roseville.
Further information about heat and sun exposures can be obtained from either OSHA or from your doctor.