Have you ever noticed how some people drive more casually and a lot faster once the snow has melted and spring and summer weather sets in?  Warmer, sunnier days can make us feel more carefree.  But it should not make us careless – behind the wheel, at work, at home, or at play.  Here’s some advice for a safer summer.

Avoid Heat Stress
Your body relies on sweating and the subsequent evaporation of sweat to cool your body.  In hot environments where the body cannot cool quickly enough, a number of heat-related illnesses could result.  Common heat disorders, in order of increasing severity, include:

• Heat rash (prickly heat)
• Heat edema (swelling)
• Heat cramps
• Heat syncope (fainting)
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat stroke.

Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated immediately.¹  Furthermore, victims won’t usually be able to recognize their own heat stroke symptoms – so it’s important that others recognize what’s happening.  Common symptoms include: weakness; confusion or strange behaviour; difficulty breathing; hot, dry, red skin; elevated pulse; headache or dizziness.  At advanced stages of heat stroke the victim may pass out or have convulsions.^2,3  Call for medical help immediately, remove excess clothing from the victim, offer sips of cool water, and fan or spray the victim with cool water.²

The Canadian Red Cross suggests the following practices to prevent heat emergencies:

• “Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.  If you must go out, try going out in the early morning or later evening hours when the sun is not as strong.
• Slow down activities that make you hot.  Work and exercise in brief periods.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Dress in light, loose clothing.  Wear a hat.
• Drink plenty of cool fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.” ⁴

 Protect From Illnesses Due To Pests and Bugs
Summer is a good time for clean-up projects.  Proceed with caution, however.  Sheds, storage bins and other areas may be littered with animal wastes or other materials carrying infectious agents.  Hanta virus, for example, can be contracted from disturbing rodent droppings or materials contaminated with rodent urine or saliva (e.g., dust and nesting materials), then inhaling those particles when they become airborne.  Rodent-infested areas must be decontaminated using safe work procedures.  (See our previous feature article on Hantavirus for details.)⁵

West Nile virus, which can be transmitted to humans when they’re bitten by infected mosquitoes, poses a risk during outdoor activities.  There are a number of things that individuals can do to prevent contracting West Nile virus.  Avoiding mosquito bites is the key.  (See our previous feature article on West Nile virus for more information.)⁶

Beware of Buried Utilities
Ensure that trained experts have searched for, and identified all buried utilities before you engage in a ground disturbance.  This should be done prior to any activity that will involve moving or penetrating the ground surface – including any mechanical excavation, driving posts or stakes, drilling, digging, trenching, blasting, and other ground disturbances.  Our previous article on ground disturbance safety explains what to do.⁷

Look After Young Workers
If your workplace employs summer students or other young workers, be aware that they’ll need training and close supervision.  Alberta’s Workers Compensation Board reports that, each year, about 7,600 young workers between 15-24 years of age report workplace injuries.⁸ 

Many young workers feel out of place in a new work environment, and may be shy or intimidated about asking questions.  And, according to the WCB, statistics have shown that over 50% of young workers reported they did not receive training before starting a new job task.⁸   Make sure your young workers have been made aware of job hazards, that they are trained to complete their tasks safely, and that they know who can answer their questions.

Minimize Sun Exposure
Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage skin cells, which may lead to sunburn, premature aging of the skin, or even skin cancer.⁹  UV radiation can also damage your eyes and weaken your immune system.¹⁰

These basic precautions will help reduce the damaging effects of UV:

• Reduce your time in the sun, especially between 11 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Protect your eyes with UV-rated sunglasses.  Side-shields or wrap-around glasses are preferred.
• Cover your head, preferably with a wide-brimmed hat or hardhat.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants to cover your skin.
• Apply sunscreen to uncovered skin.  Use a sun protection factor of at least 15 (SPF 15).  Sunscreen should protect from both UVA and UVB.  Reapply sunscreen frequently, especially if you’ve been in the water or if sweating.
• Be especially careful about UV protection when near water and sand, as they can reflect UV radiation.
• Be aware of the daily UV index, which can be found in weather reports or on the Internet.

UV Index and Environment Canada Sun Protection Messages¹⁰

Useful References  

1.  “Too Much of a Good Thing – The Hazards of Summer Heat”, Health & Safety Report, Volume 2, Issue 6, June 2004, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety.
2. Working in Hot Environments: Health & Safety Guide, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, 96 pages, 2005.
3. “OSHA Quick Card – Protect Yourself: Heat Stress”, US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3154.html
4. “Heat Emergencies – The Facts”, Canadian Red Cross website www.redcross.ca
5. “A Primer on Hantavirus”, featured on Guzzardi & Associates website www.guzzardiassociatesohc.com
6. “An Introduction to West Nile Virus”, featured on Guzzardi & Associates website www.guzzardiassociatesohc.com
7. “Ground Disturbance Safety: Avoiding the Consequences of Hitting Buried Utilities”, featured on Guzzardi & Associates website www.guzzardiassociatesohc.com
8. “Tips for Employers: Employing Young Workers”, Worksafe Alberta website www.gov.ab.ca/hre/whs
9. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS), OSH Answers website www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/skin_cancer.html
10. “Protecting Yourself – UV Index and Sun Protection”, Environment Canada, Meteorological Service of Canada www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/uvindex/protecting_yourself_e.html