If the past week has proven anything it is that high temperatures and blistering heat can seemingly come out of nowhere. The important thing is to know how to recognize the signs of heat illness and how to prevent it from happening all together.
As Hurricane Matthew gains in strength, the Southeastern portion of the country is in crisis mode. While state and local authorities are busy issuing evacuation orders, employers should be activating their own response efforts. Employers must juggle everything from employee safety to client relations and data recovery. While most employers in the affected areas are experienced in handling natural disasters, many still do not have formal procedures for handling such events.
As reported by OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor, the construction industry saw the highest number of workplace deaths in 2013 with a total of 796 deaths reported. A drastic 57% of those deaths were attributed to what is referred to as the “Fatal Four” which includes falls, being caught between objects, electrocutions, and being struck by objects.