Construction workers, who often work outdoors in direct sunlight or in hot, enclosed spaces, are often at risk for heat-related illnesses and, in severe cases, death. Rising global temperatures in recent decades increase that risk. However, these illnesses and deaths are preventable. The following resources contain information about heat hazards in construction, and ways to prevent related illnesses, including a new webinar from CPWR:
June 29, 2021 Webinar: Heat related Illness & Death in Construction
Moderator: Rick Rinehart, ScD, Deputy Director, CPWR
Presented by: Gavin West, MPH, Director, Nanomaterials Research
Chris Le, MPH, Program Manager, Construction Solutions Database
Rosa Greenberg, MPH, Research Assistant, Research to Practice (r2p)
Play Recording Download Presentation
CPWR
CPWR resources and solutions include:
- Hot Weather Toolbox Talk. Also available in Spanish.
- Hot Weather Hazard Alert. Also available in Spanish.
- Skin Cancer Toolbox Talk. Also available in Spanish.
- Skin Cancer Hazard Alert. Also available in Spanish.
- Lightning Toolbox Talk. Also available in Spanish.
- Lightning Hazard Alert. Also available in Spanish.
- Heat Hazard & Solutions
- Protect Yourself Against Heat Exposure Infographics — from the OSHA-CPWR Alliance
- Protect Yourself from Lightning Infographic
OSHA
OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness and Occupational Heat Exposure web pages provide a host of resources for employers and workers, including:
- NEW! Infographics
Prevent Heat Illness at Work Infographic English (ZIP)
Prevent Heat Illness at Work Infographic Spanish (ZIP)
Heat Illness Medical Emergency Infographic English (ZIP)
Heat Illness Medical Emergency Infographic Spanish (ZIP)
Heat Illness Signs and Symptoms Infographic English (ZIP)
Heat Illness Signs and Symptoms Infographic Spanish (ZIP) - NEW! Public Service Announcement: Heat Illness Prevention (60 second audio messages)
English: Recording | Transcript
Spanish: Recording | Transcript - REVISED Working Safely in Hot Weather: OSHA Alert
English: PDF
Spanish: PDF - COVID-19 Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings while Working Outdoors in Hot and Humid Conditions
- COVID-19 Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings while Working Indoors in Hot and Humid Conditions
- Water, Rest, Shade Fact Sheet. Also available in Spanish
- Water, Rest, Shade Wallet Card. Also available in Spanish and Portguese
- Heat Illness Training Poster Also available in Spanish
- The OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide. Also available in Spanish
- The OSHA Heat Safety Tool Smartphone App
NIOSH
The NIOSH Heat Stress page offers additional tools and publications addressing heat stress, including:
- Protecting Yourself from Heat Stress card
- Protect Your Workers from Heat Stress infographic
- Protect Yourself from Heat Stress podcast (4 min.)
- Heat-Related Illness Poster
- Evaluation of Occupational Exposure Limits for Heat Stress in Outdoor Workers — United States, 2011–2016 MMWR Report
- NEW! Extreme Heat & Construction Falls Infographic: English – JPEG, PDF; Spanish JPEG, PDF
