by: Mark Cobb
This afternoon, our expected highs will be in the mid 90’s! This is hot! It doesn’t matter whether you are sitting in your house by an air conditioning vent, running errands or working outside, this is hot!. Because many of our clients are construction professionals and many of their employees work outside, we thought you might appreciate learning about a new mobile phone app for those who spend time outside. In fact, OSHA’s website has some useful tools for those outside in the heat including a mobile phone app that helps calculate the heat index. Click here to download the heat index app for your iPhone or Droid mobile phone!
According to the OSHA website:
“When you’re working in the heat, safety comes first. With the OSHA Heat Safety Tool, you have vital safety information available whenever and wherever you need it — right on your mobile phone.
“The App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers. Then, with a simple “click,” you can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness—reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.”
For more information about safety while working in the heat, see OSHA’s heat illness webpage, including a new online guidance about using the heat index to protect workers
If you try this new app, we’d enjoy hearing your response about its effectiveness. Please leave us a comment today!
The app is helpful, but really workers should know when they need a break. It’s important to be smart about heat safety. If you are outside in hot temperatures wearing heavy safety apparel you will need to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.