Heat Illness Prevention Programs & Their Impact on Business Success

Hot weather safety and heat illness prevention is more important than ever. As the Central Texas region continues to experience exponential growth, the need for new construction shows no signs of slowing down. Retail and commercial development projects are booming, but along with that boom of activity comes increased risk— especially in the extreme Texas heat.

While Central Texas and surrounding regions are no strangers to working through sweltering summer heat, the average number of heat advisory days is on the rise, as are the numbers of reported heat-related employee injuries.

According to the National Weather Service, heat now ranks as the deadliest weather threat with the most linked fatalities each year. In addition, workers are at a 6% to 9% higher risk of injury and accident occurrence during days with temperatures above 90° F. The risk of injury jumps even further to 10% to 15% on days above 100° F.

Beyond the medical impact and safety risk to employees that heat poses, it is also costly. An analysis by #OSHA found that heat-related workplace incidents resulted in approximately $35,000 per injury in worker’s comp claims alone.

That estimate doesn’t include the indirect costs from heat-related illness incidents, which could include lost productivity, training for replacement employees, implementing corrective measures, lower employee morale, reduced employee retention, and the impact on reputation.

People like doing business with companies that invest in the well-being of their employees. Today’s customers/clients increasingly demand that their contractors invest in effective health and safety practices supported by a strong safety culture.

While you may not be able to avoid the heat in Texas, you can create a strong workplace safety culture to mitigate heat-related risks. This approach protects your company’s reputation and bottom line by preserving your workforce’s safety, bolstering morale, and increasing employee retention.

Creating a Culture of Safety

Building a strong safety culture means going beyond the minimum requirements.

Most companies understand the importance of providing the “big three” heat prevention measures: rest, shade, and hydration. Unfortunately, those simple measures can fall short in especially hot, humid, or heavy work conditions. It is crucial for your workers, your safety program, and your company’s bottom line to go beyond the basics by implementing a comprehensive heat illness prevention program.

Creating a heat illness prevention program that promotes education and encouragement will benefit your workers, overall safety, and your company’s bottom line.

Start with a Review

Begin by reviewing your current safety measures and how effective they are. Next, look for low-hanging fruit that will be easy to implement but will make a big impact. These opportunities can include changes like a modified work schedule to help avoid exposing employees to the hottest parts of the day.

These risk control steps might seem obvious, but too often they aren’t enforced. Give a clear indication to employees that you care about their safety, not simply keeping a jobsite open and finishing a project on time.

Companies should also review their current training to see if their workforce is receiving the right kind and level of information. Without proper training from company leadership, workers may be unaware of the symptoms of heat stress beyond recognizing that they’re feeling hot and sweaty.

Additional early symptoms of heat stress and exhaustion that employees may be unaware of include disorientation, stumbling, lethargy, fumbling with tools, confusion, or slurred speech.

Imagine what could happen if an employee who is untrained and unaware of the symptoms of heat stress becomes disoriented on the jobsite or while operating heavy machinery. The outcome could be devastating.

Employee Training & Education

With especially high temperatures scorching Central Texas, now is a great time for a refresher and additional training on heat safety.

Companies should provide employees and supervisors training on how to work safely in hot and humid conditions, as well as how to identify the signs of heat exhaustion in themselves and their coworkers. Training topics should include: identifying the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, how heat can affect the body, and what to do if a co-worker is experiencing symptoms of a heat-related illness.

#Construction workers in the U.S. are 13 times more likely to die from a heat-related illness compared to workers in other industries. By offering proper training, outdoor workers can greatly reduce the risk of heat-related dangers.

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Ultimately, it’s crucial for your entire team to be trained and aware of what to do when it comes to heat safety and prevention. Companies that don’t create a safety program from the top down inevitably fail their employees and, in turn, lose business. By integrating safety into every step of your organization, you ensure a successful future for your employees and your business.

Have a safety or insurance question? Leave it in the comments. Sarah may not be able to respond to all questions directly, but your topic may be considered for a future article.

SARAH HOUSER

Sarah Houser-Kean is a commercial producer with The Nitsche Group Insurance Agency where she works to empower her clients to continue to grow their business while feeling supported and secure. She is licensed in property casualty insurance and specializes in commercial insurance, employee benefits solutions, bonding, and life insurance.

Sarah can be contacted at [email protected] or by phone at 512-705-8577.