Protecting Young Workers From Heat Illnesses

Young workers often go to jobsites full of energy and enthusiasm to tackle new challenges. They may also be willing to take on longer shifts and be capable of performing physically demanding tasks. While these attributes can be positive, they can also increase these workers’ chances of suffering from heat illnesses, serious medical conditions that can lead to life-threatening conditions or death.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure employees are safe from workplace hazards, including heat illnesses. By being aware of the conditions that cause heat illness as well as young workers’ heightened susceptibility to this risk, employers can take steps to help safeguard their employees. This article provides more information on heat illness and why young workers are vulnerable to it. It also offers tips on heat illness prevention for all workers and targeted safety tips to protect young workers.

What Is Heat Illness?

A worker’s core body temperature may begin to rise as external temperatures rise. The body naturally attempts to regulate its temperature by increasing its heart rate and sweating. Heat illness develops when these mechanisms fail to keep the core body temperature from rising to unhealthy levels.

Multiple types of heat illnesses exist, and their impacts are on a spectrum. They can include minor symptoms like heat cramps and life-threatening conditions, such as heat stroke. Recognizing and responding to symptoms early helps reduce the chances of the event rising to a medical emergency. Therefore, it is essential for employers to learn how to recognize heat illness symptoms, the actions to take at the first sign of heat illness and how to properly respond to emergencies.

Why Are Young Workers at Risk of Heat Illness?

There are several reasons why young workers may be at an increased risk of heat illness as well as other workplace injuries, including:

• They may be new to their jobs and unfamiliar with the signs and severity of heat illness.
• They may be unfamiliar with workplace policies and procedures for working in hot temperatures.
• They may be high energy, have elevated enthusiasm and have a propensity to take risks.
• They may be more hesitant to ask questions, raise concerns and make safety demands.
• They may overestimate their ability to work in the heat.
• They may take longer shifts and jobs with heavy physical responsibilities.
• They may be seasonal, part-time or temporary workers who have not properly acclimatized to their conditions.

Industries Where Young Workers Are at Heightened Risk of Heat Illness

Young workers in all industries are at risk of suffering from heat illness. However, certain industries and roles may expose young workers to heat hazards at a higher rate, including:

• Construction
• Utility work
• Machine operation
• Factory or production jobs
• Warehouse work (e.g., packaging, stocking, filling orders)
• Mechanical and installation jobs, maintenance and repair positions
• Food preparation and dishwashing (e.g., restaurants, coffee shops, fast food locations)
• Home and office moving
• Agricultural work (e.g., planting, harvesting)
• Landscaping and house painting
• Outdoor entertainment (e.g., ticket-taking, working as attendants at theme parks and attractions, guiding tours, working at festivals or concerts)
• Outdoor recreation or education (e.g., park staff, camp counselors, childcare)

Heat Illness Prevention Tips for All Workers

Heat illness prevention programs can help keep all workers safe, not just young workers. Employers should consider the following when designing and implementing their heat safety plans:

• Conduct regular workplace assessments to identify and mitigate heat hazards (e.g., temperature; humidity; sun exposures; work demands; and personal risk factors, including medications, physical characteristics, health conditions and behavioral characteristics).
• Designate an individual to oversee the heat safety program who is trained in heat hazards, heat illness symptoms and heat controls. Ideally, multiple people should be trained to always have a designated heat safety representative on-site.
• Train all workers on heat illness risks, symptoms, response procedures and prevention methods. Ensure the training occurs in a language and format that workers understand.
• Ensure workers dress appropriately for high temperatures with a hat and loose-fitting, breathable clothing when it is safe for them to wear it.
• Acclimatize new and returning workers by allowing them to take more frequent breaks and slowly increasing their workload and exposure. Adhere to the 20% rule (begin with 20% exposure on the first day, increasing by no more than 20% each subsequent day), as OSHA reports that nearly 3 out of 4 heat illness fatalities occur in the first workweek. Full acclimatization can take 14 days or longer.
• Modify work schedules to lessen heat exposure by rescheduling nonessential work and physically demanding work for cooler days. However, be aware that early morning start times may increase fatigue if there is a significant schedule shift, and the mornings may have higher humidity levels.
• Ensure adequate staffing for the conditions and rotate workers, add workers, ease workloads or split shifts to reduce heat exposure.
• Stop work if necessary due to the conditions and heat risks. A monitoring system should be in place to watch for signs and symptoms of heat illness (e.g., headaches, cramps, nausea, weakness, dizziness, elevated body temperature, decreased urine output and thirst). A buddy system can be helpful to identify issues, and more robust programs can include medical monitoring (e.g., pre-placement and periodic medical evaluations).
• Allow for frequent breaks in shady or cool areas long enough for workers to recover from the heat. Cool drinking water should be available. Workers should be encouraged to hydrate but cautioned against over-hydrating (e.g., drinking more than 48 ounces per hour). Portable tents and shelters can be set up if natural shade is unavailable.
• Utilize technology to track heat hazards, including the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App, and follow the National Weather Service for high-temperature weather alerts.
• Include an emergency plan that outlines what to do if someone is showing symptoms of severe heat illness (abnormal behavior and speech; seizures; fainting; heavy perspiration; and hot, dry skin), how to administer first aid and how to contact emergency services. The plan should include a description of how long emergency services take to reach the jobsite and appropriate first-aid measures to perform until medical services arrive (e.g., moving the worker to a cool or shaded area, removing unnecessary clothing, and cooling them with water or ice).
• Comply with applicable safety laws and regulations and adhere to requirements that may vary by state. Following these rules can help keep employees safe and protect the employer from facing noncompliance fines and penalties.
• Ensure the heat safety plan is routinely communicated to supervisors and workers and is available in a language and format that is understandable. The plan should also be regularly reviewed and updated when necessary.

Tips for Employers to Protect Young Workers

Because young workers are at a heightened risk of heat illness and other injuries at work, employers should take the following extra precautions to safeguard them:

• Follow federal and state child labor laws, including those that prohibit youth under the age of 18 from working certain hours and performing dangerous or hazardous work.
• Ensure equipment is safe and legal for use, and clearly label equipment that workers under 18 are not permitted to operate.
• Target training to young workers that explains safety best practices, heat exposure risks, heat prevention actions and first aid. They should also be educated on recognizing hazards and how to respond if they are hurt on the job. This information should be provided whenever they receive a new task and presented in a way they can understand.
• Provide good examples by modeling safe working practices and decision-making (e.g., taking breaks and hydrating properly).
• Ensure they have proper safety equipment that fits correctly.
• Provide a mentor who can help them learn from a more experienced worker.
• Encourage them to ask questions and raise issues, responding positively and considerately so they feel comfortable doing so.

Conclusion

Employers have a legal and ethical duty to ensure their workers are safe from all hazards, including heat illnesses. By familiarizing themselves with the signs of symptoms of heat illness and designing and implementing heat safety plans, employers can improve safety and help protect their workers.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Employers should consult with legal counsel or safety professionals for specific compliance recommendations.