Heat illness on the job, water, rest and shade for a crew

Water, rest and shade prevent heat illness, and they're also the first treatment for it. Set all three up before a hot job starts.

Water

• Keep cool water close to the workHave enough on site for everyone for the whole job.
• Add electrolyte drinks on jobs of two hours or moreWater alone doesn't replace the electrolytes lost in sweat.
• Have the crew drink regularly, before they're thirsty

Rest and shade

• Make breaks longer and more frequent as the heat risesSkipping breaks in the heat isn't safe.
• Give the crew a cool place to take themShade, an air-conditioned truck, a nearby building or tent, or a spot with fans and misters all work.
• Plan extra breaks on days the crew wears heavy gearSome respirators and waterproof suits trap heat and raise the risk.
• Schedule the hardest work for the morningShorter shifts with shaded breaks also cut the exposure.

New and returning workers

• Ease anyone new to the heat in over the first few daysSomeone who hasn't worked in the heat recently needs time to adjust. Give them more fluids, shorter shifts and more breaks at first. In those first days, take any symptom seriously, and let them stop work if they feel ill.
• Train everyone on the symptoms and first aid before the season

When someone gets sick

• Know the signs of heat exhaustionFatigue, irritability, thirst, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, heavy sweating, and a raised temperature or fast heartbeat. Move the worker somewhere cooler, and don't leave them alone.
• Know the other heat illnessesHeat cramps are muscle spasms, usually in the legs, arms or trunk. Heat syncope is fainting or dizziness. Heat rash is clusters of red bumps, often on the neck, upper chest and in skin folds. Muscle pain with dark urine, or less of it, can mean the muscles are breaking down. Give first aid for any of these right away.
• Know the signs of heat strokeConfusion, slurred speech, passing out, seizures, hot dry skin or heavy sweating, a very high body temperature and a racing heart.
• For heat stroke, call 911 and cool them downMove the worker into shade or air conditioning. The fastest way to cool someone is a tub of cold water and ice. Otherwise, take off heavy outer clothing, put ice or cold wet towels on the head, neck, trunk, armpits and groin, and run fans over them. Stay with them until help arrives.
• When in doubt, treat it as heat strokeDon't stop to work out which heat illness it is. Cool the worker and call 911.

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app gives the heat index for your job site and what precautions it calls for.