Keep Your Outdoor Workers Safe From Heat Illness
// Dallas, Texas, United States // Attorney Keith Clouse (Blog) // Keith Clouse
While North Texans have enjoyed a mild spring, springtime temperatures will soon give way to summertime heat. Keith Clouse, a Dallas employment and labor law attorney, reminds employers that they have a duty to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness. Mr. Clouse highlights the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers.
Heat illness poses a substantial threat to workers; in 2012, 31 heat-related deaths and over 4,000 heat-related illnesses occurred. Heat illness may first appear as heat rash or heat cramps and can quickly escalate to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Because heat illness disproportionately affects workers who have not built up a tolerance to the temperature, it is especially dangerous for new and temporary workers. Susceptible workers include those who work in the agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas, and transportation industries.
OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials and a workplace training curriculum in both English and Spanish. OSHA has also developed a free smart phone application that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites.
To discuss an employment or labor law issue with an employment law attorney, contact an employment lawyer in your area. This article is presented by Mr. Clouse and the Dallas, Texas employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP. For inquiries, send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.
Contact Keith Clouse
KEITH A. CLOUSE
Clouse Dunn LLP
214.220.2722 214.220.3833 ( fax) keith@clousedunn.com
