US Labor Department kicks off summer campaign to prevent heat-related illnesses and fatalities among outdoor workers

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has kicked off a national outreach initiative to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in hot weather. "For outdoor workers, 'water, rest and shade' are three words that can make a difference between life and death," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said. "If employers take reasonable precautions, and look out for their workers, we can beat the heat."Every year, thousands of workers across the country suffer from serious heat-related illnesses. If not quickly addressed, heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which has killed- on average- more than 30 workers annually since 2003. Labor-intensive activities in hot weather can raise body temperatures beyond the level that normally can be cooled by sweating. Heat illness initially may manifest as heat rash or heat cramps, but quickly can become heat exhaustion and then heat stroke if simple prevention steps are not followed.In preparation for the summer season, OSHA has developed heat illiness educational materials in English and Spanish, as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training. Additionally, a web page provides information and resources on heat illness- including how to prevent it and what to do in case of an emergency - for workers and employers. The pages is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.OSHA has also released a free application for mobile devices that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites. This app displays a risk level for workers based on the heat index, as well as reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level. Available for Android-based platforms and the iPhone, the app can be downloaded in both English and Spanish by visiting http://s.dol.gov/RI.Additionally, OSHA is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the second year to incorporate worker safety precautions when heat alerts are issued across the nation. NOAA also will include pertinent worker safety information on its heat watch web page at http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/heat.php.