Workplace Safety

"Employers are responsible for protecting workers by providing plenty of water, scheduling rest breaks in the shade or air-conditioned areas, planning heavy work early in the day, preparing for medical emergencies, training workers about heat and other job hazards, taking steps to help workers acclimate to the heat, and increasing workloads gradually or allowing more frequent breaks during the first week of an outdoor project, according to an OSHA news release" (SHRM 2011). What tools are there to be proactive in preventing heat related illness?

 I think its safe to say that almost every business has a website.  It is interesting how quickly businesses are quickly adopting cell phones apps just as though they did with websites.  The Department of Labor is one of those early adopters of the smart phone applications.  They have launched an app that can measure the heat index at work sites.  The app also categorizes the reading into various risk categories.  The app includes preventative tips and even includes information on signs of heat exhaustion.  Project managers will appreciate the reminders from the app that notify them when employee's should take breaks.


This app would be very successful for companies that have workers working in high temps.  I imagine that this app would also provide  benefits to other populations.  For example, the elderly or families with children would benefit, the alerts could bring awareness of severe heat situations.  I foresee that apps will continue to be developed with workplace safety in mind.  It would be at the company's best interest to adopt apps like this heat app.  The heat app may assist in the reduction of workforce turnover, injuries, leaves of absence or even death of workers.


http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html