April 2025
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Inside the April Issue |
Control of Heat Stress
Hydration & Acclimatization
Heat stress, from exertion or hot environments,
places workers at risk for illnesses
such as heat stroke, heat
exhaustion, or heat cramps. Drinking
enough fluids is one of the most important
things you can do to prevent heat illness.
New employees are at the highest risk for
heat illness. Acclimatization is crucial to
working in hot conditions.
Hydrate Before Work
Being hydrated when you start work
makes it easier to stay hydrated through
the day. If you are dehydrated when you
start work, you may not be able to drink
enough to catch up with your body’s need
for water.
Hydrate During Work
Drink before feeling thirsty. By the
time you feel thirsty, you are already behind
in fluid replacement.
Dehydration is
a primary contributor to heat exhaustion. Your work performance may suffer when you are dehydrated,
even if you don’t notice.
When working in the heat, drink 1
cup (8 ounces) of water every 15–20 minutes. This translates
to ¾–1 quart (24–32 ounces) per hour. Drinking at
shorter intervals is more effective than drinking large
amounts infrequently. Do not drink more than 48 oz (1½
quarts) per hour! Drinking too much water or other fluids
(sports drinks, energy drinks, etc.) can cause a medical
emergency because the concentration of salt in the blood
becomes too low.
Hydrate After Work
Most people need several hours to drink enough fluids to replace
what they have lost through sweat. The sooner you get
started, the less strain you place on your body from dehydration.
Hydrating after work is even more important if you work
in the heat on a regular basis. Chronic dehydration increases
the risk for a number of medical conditions, such as kidney
stones.
What to Drink and What to Avoid
Water is generally sufficient for hydration. Water will almost
always maintain hydration during work in the heat, as long as
you eat regular meals to replace salt lost in sweat.
NIOSH does
not recommend taking salt tablets. In most cases, salt can be
replaced by eating normal meals and snacks throughout the day.
Do not skip meals. The amount of caffeine in tea, coffee, and
soft drinks probably will not have an effect on overall hydration.
In general, eating regular meals with adequate water intake is
sufficient to maintain water and electrolyte balance. For prolonged
sweating lasting several hours, sports drinks with balanced electrolytes are another option to replace salt lost in sweat. Heavy
consumption of sports drinks will add unnecessary calories to
your diet due to the added sugar.
Avoid Energy Drinks:
• Some energy drinks contain much more caffeine than standard
servings of coffee, tea, or soft drinks.
• Drinking several energy drinks per day can raise your caffeine
levels enough to affect your heart. High caffeine levels can be
risky when added to the strain placed on your body by heat.
• Many energy drinks contain as much or more sugar as soft
drinks, which adds hundreds of extra calories to your diet.
today's News
U.S. Compliance Acquires OECS
EXCELSIOR, MN --U.S. Compliance (USC), a national provider of environmental, health and safety (EHS) services, announced it has acquired OSHA/Environmental Compliance Systems (OECS), a regional leader in EHS consulting headquartered in St. Louis Park, MN with a strong presence in the Upper Midwest. The acquisition of OECS further solidifies USC’s industry-leading position in the EHS services market and charts further expansion into the region.
AGF Welcomes Stewart to the Engineering Team
MALVERN, PA -- AGF Manufacturing announced the addition of George Stewart to its growing engineering team.
SEAA Reinforces Safety Culture with New Fall Prevention Poster and Ironworker-Inspired Sticker Design
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) is reinforcing its commitment to fall prevention and jobsite safety with two major initiatives. The association has unveiled the winning design of its annual Hard Hat Sticker Contest and is releasing its 2025 Fall Prevention Stand-Down poster, titled “Don’t Fall for False Security. Tie Off Right at Any Height!”
Tower Family Foundation Recognizes Carlson with Guardian Award
WATERTOWN, SD -- Kari Carlson, CEO of Tower Systems Inc. and founding Board Member of the Tower Family Foundation was recently recognized as one of the three people who stepped up to launch the Tower Family Foundation. Carlson served as the first Secretary and Treasurer of the organization.
US Department of Labor releases 2024 injury, illness data
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released 2024 workplace injury and illness data collected from its Injury Tracking Application. Under federal recordkeeping rules, employers are required to electronically submit injury and illness data to OSHA.
