Half the population of the US is under a heat warning and it’s only May 2022, according to NOAA, The Guardian, CNN, and other outlets. These unseasonably hot temperatures threaten the health and well-being of over 120 million residents and workers, and the weather service estimates that as many as 130 temperature records could be broken in the next few days.

OSHA calls heat illness the silent killer because it is the #1 most deadly weather phenomena, exceeding floods, tornadoes, snowstorms, and hurricanes. Heat illness sneaks up on its victims, and early spring heatwaves are the most dangerous, because people have not had time to acclimate to the rising temperatures. People most vulnerable are the elderly, urban poor, outdoor laborers, employees working in environments that are already super-heated by equipment, machinery, or production processes, and warehouse workers.

What do you know about heat Illness?

• Can you list five symptoms of heat illness? 
• Does your workforce know how to recognize the early warning signs of heat illness?
• Do you know what OSHA defines as a dangerous heat index?
• What can your workers do to lower their risk of heat illness?
• Do you have an SOP that defines how your company manages extreme heat?