|
|
It’s official – summer’s here! Make sure you and your employees stay safe while working in the heat.
The official start of summer may not be until June 21, but high temperatures around the country say otherwise. For most people, summer is here to stay, which means lawn and landscape crews must be especially careful while working outside. Everything from sunburns to dehydration to heat stroke can affect individuals who work outdoors, so employers should make sure their crews are clear on company policies about working in hot weather, as well as how to identify signs of heat stroke, exhaustion and other heat hazards.
| SUMMER SAFETY RESOURCES |
OSHA has a number of summer safety documents available on its Web site and three in particular are available through the links below. Fact sheets on heat stress and sun safety area available in both English and Spanish. The “Working Outdoors” fact sheet also is available: |
BE SUN SENSITIVE. According to a fact sheet from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. As such, OSHA notes that there are no safe UV rays or safe suntans, so outdoor workers should be especially careful to shield themselves from the sun. Additionally, individuals with freckles, numerous, irregular or large moles, fair skin, or blond, red or light brown hair are particularly susceptible to sun-related skin damage. Here are some tips to keep the rays away:
- Cover up. Wear tightly woven clothing that you can’t see through.
- Use sunscreen. A sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 blocks 93 percent of UV rays, but only for a short period of time – be sure to reapply and follow application directions on the bottle or tube.
- Wear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap, works best because it protects the neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.
- Wear UV-absorbent shades. Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive, but they should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Before you buy, read the product tag or label.
- Limit exposure. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Helpful link: www.cdc.gov/chooseyourcover
BEAT THE HEAT. OSHA says the combination of heat and humidity can be a serious health threat during the summer months. Lawn and landscape contractors can be at risk for heat-related illnesses as they spend their days outside. Use these recommendations to beat the heat. Additionally, be sure to read OSHA’s Heat Stress Card – available in PDF form in English and Spanish – to familiarize yourself and your employees with the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
- Drink plenty of water before you get thirsty.
- Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing – cotton is good.
- Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
- Eat smaller meals before work activity.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
- Find out from your health-care provider if your medications and heat don’t mix.
- Know that equipment such as respirators or work suits can increase heat stress.
| (DON'T) SCRATCH THAT | |||
Sun sensitivity isn’t the only concern for outdoor workers in the summer – or any time of year, for that matter. In both warm and cool weather, poisonous plants can do damage to your system if you’re not careful. Hyland’s, manufacturer of IvyComplete and IvyBlock Lotion note that poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are all concerns for outdoor workers – especially those involved in clearing brush, weeds, etc. “The rash from poison ivy, oak and sumac comes from urushiol, a colorless, odorless oil that can remain on clothes, tools and gear for years,” the company says. As such, avoiding such plants and knowing how to treat rashes that do occur from exposure is essential. Here are some tips for identifying the offending plants and recognizing exposure symptoms, provided by IvyBlock and IvyComplete:
Poison Ivy: Poison Ivy can be found in every region of the United States except the Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii. It appears as a weed with three shiny, green leaves and a red stem. The plant typically grows in the form of a vine, often along riverbanks and in moist woods, but also in pastures, fencerows and roadsides.
Poison Oak: Found on the West Coast and throughout the South, poison oak is most abundant on relatively dry, sunny sites in woodlands, thickets and old fields. The plant grows in the form of a shrub and has three leaves, similar to poison ivy, but without the climbing growth habit. Leaflets are thicker, dull green, hairy on both surfaces and also have serrated edges on one side of each leaf.
Poison Sumac: This poisonous plant is found abundantly along the Mississippi River, but is less common in other regions. It grows as a woody shrub with each stem containing seven to 13 leaves arranged in pairs. Toxicity: The poison ivy and poison oak resin called urushiol is found in stems and leaves, though all parts of the plant are poisonous. Urushiol irritates both the skin and mucous membranes of individuals that come in contact with the plants, and some people are quite sensitive to the effects of the toxin. Others may show now ill effects from coming in contact with the plant and urushiol has little or no effect on most animals. However, pets may carry the substance on their hair and transmit it to humans. Symptoms: Individuals who are allergic to poisonous plant sap will experience a range of skin conditions, including a rash, blisters, redness and itching. The rash is spread when the plant oils come in contact with different areas of the skin, but it is not spread by fluid from the resulting blisters. Thus, it is not contagious unless the resin remains on the skin and is touched by another person. The rash can vary in severity from person to person and can begin as early as an hour after contact or up to five days later. It is also possible for the resin to persist for long periods on contaminated clothing, pets, tools, etc., and sensitive individuals can easily develop the rash from delayed contact with contaminated items even weeks after initial contamination. The worst stage of the rash usually appears four to seven days after exposure and may last for one to three weeks. Treatment: Follow these tips for treatment of rashes from poison ivy, oak or sumac: Prevention & Control: Learning to identify poison ivy, oak and sumac using the indicators above is the first step in avoiding these poisonous plants. Additionally, individuals who may come in contact with the plants should cover their skin with long sleeves, long pants, shoes and shocks. Barriers like IvyBlock lotion can absorb the allergenic oils in poisonous plants from being absorbed by the skin. Washing clothes, shoes and tools that may have contacted poisonous plants can keep the resin from being spread latently. May and June are the best times to apply control measures to poisonous plants, though this can be done at any time of year. Burning may be dangerous and is not recommended as a disposal or control measure as the toxic oil from the plants can be carried in smoke. Additionally, remember that vines left on trees or fences – even if they look dead – may still carry allergenic oils and should be handled with care. |
