OSHA Reminds Texas Employers to Protect Workers from the Heat

Temperatures in Texas are rising this week, and the agency reminds employers and workers that it has a free Heat Safety Tool app they can use.

OSHA issued a statement June 15 reminding employers in Texas to protect workers from heat illness, due to the rising temperatures in the state this week.

The agency included a number of tips on how to stay safe in the heat and reiterating that water, rest, and shade are the three magic words that can mean the difference between life and death when temperatures soar. To prevent heat-related illness and fatalities, it advises:

Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.

Rest in the shade to cool down.

Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.

Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.

Keep an eye on fellow workers.

"Easy does it" on your first days of work in the heat. You need to get used to it.

For more information about OSHA's campaign to prevent outdoor workers' heat illnesses, visit www.osha.gov/heat.

And to download OSHA's Heat Safety Tool app, which can calculate heat index and display risk information and is available in English and Spanish, visit this page.

California has a heat illness prevention regulation, and Cal/OSHA warned employers in the state about high temperatures on June 1. The regulation requires employers to develop a heat illness prevention plan. For information and resources about developing such a plan, visit this page.