COPING WITH HEAT Compiled by Suz Trusty
As business owners, operators, and managers, your first priority must be the health and safety of your workers. It’s not only your government mandated responsibility, but also your ethical and moral responsibility. As we hit record high temperatures in the summer of 2022, tap into the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) resources to make sure you are following the government guidelines, effectively communicating those standards to your employees, and that you—and they—know what to do should a heat-related incident occur. (https://www.osha. gov/heat-exposure/) Tat website states, “Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat in their workplaces. Although illness from exposure to heat is preventable, every year, thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some cases are fatal.”
Prevention
Te prevention section of that OSHA website states: Heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Prevention requires employers and workers to recognize heat hazards. Management should commit to:
• Take extra precautions to protect new workers.
• Train supervisors and workers to control and recognize heat hazards.
• Determine, for each worker throughout each workday, whether total heat stress is too high, both from the conditions of that day and recognizing carryover effect possibilities.
• Implement engineering and administrative controls to reduce heat stress.
• Provide sufficient rest, shade, and fluids.
You can learn more about these preventive measures by exploring the links posted on that webpage.
Be Red Cross Ready A prime source for heat safety is the American Red Cross. A PDF of their document, “Be Red Cross Ready—Heat Wave Safety Checklist” is on page 67. Consider posting it on a bulletin board in your company’s office or breakroom. Or making copies to give to all of your staff members. Make some extras to offer to your customers, too. And take one home to post for your family as well.
Watch Out for that Artificial Turf
Many media outlets have warned of the dangerous heat of artificial turf. One example, “Playground Safety Tips for Extreme Heat” was developed by Brittany Slaughter as the top story for WAOW News, Wausau, Wisconsin. You can find the complete article and videos for them by name at
https://www.waow.com/.
If you're eager to get the kids out of the house on a hot day, first responders said there's a good chance your kids could get burned while out playing. Slides, climbing walls, and merry-go-rounds offer plenty of fun in the sun, but also run the risk of being dangerously hot.
"Metal can absorb the heat from the sun and can be really hot. Make sure you check on any of the surfaces before you put any of your children on them," said Kurt Riel, engineer for the Wausau Fire Department. Metal isn't the only culprit that can burn. When tested with a heat thermometer, a plastic slide in Wausau reached a temperature of 116 degrees before lunchtime. Metal stairs hit 104 degrees, and the AstroTurf hit 132 degrees.
To keep kids safe, make sure their shoes stay on, avoid flip-flops, and try not to expose bare skin to the equipment while making liberal use of sunscreen. "It's really important to re-apply sunscreen and if you're going to be out when it's really hot and you're sweating, reapplying it every 80 to 90 minutes is really ideal," said Dr. Maggie Moses, dermatologist at Marshfield Clinic. Te best bet for kids is a sunscreen that's mineral based and easy to re-apply. "Tose contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and studies show they're pretty safe in the younger population so for children that would be my advice," Moses said.
Given the choice, on days when the sun is suffocating, plan for a trip to the pool instead of the park and avoid the hottest hours all together. "Keep kids indoors, go ahead and stay inside, or in the shade during the peak hours of the sun from ten to two. Seek out any splash pads, any water activity safely," Riel said. Whether you're going to the splash pad or out to the park, make sure you have plenty of water on hand to stay hydrated.
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West Coast Turf captured this temperature reading on an artificial turf surface in California on a sunny day when the air temperature was 75 degrees F. Photo courtesy of West Coast Turf.
Suz Trusty is co-editor of TurfNews. TPI Turf News July/August 2022
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