It’s the hottest month in the US, so there’s no doubt that there will be plenty of heat-related toolbox talks in July! It’s also more important than ever for your colleagues to get up-to-date with the best practices in heat safety, including signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, appropriate PPE, and additional fire hazards.
So, following our May Safety Topics and June Safety Topics, we are now diving into our list of July safety topics. We hope these can serve as an inspiration for your daily toolbox talks and safety meetings this month.
With that said, let’s start with a review of the monthly safety calendar…
July safety events
This July there are a few but important topical safety events such as UV Safety Awareness month.
| Event | Sponsor | Date(s) |
| UV Safety Awareness Month | American Academy of Ophthalmology & U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | July |
| Operation Safe Driver Week | CVSA | July 11 – 17 |
| World Hepatitis Day | World Hepatitis Alliance | July 28 |
Remember that you can also mix and match your safety topics. For example, because workers’ memorial day is in April, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at the most frequent causes of workplace injuries, near misses, and fatalities regularly.
July safety topics
Summer heat safety
Our first safety topic for July is heat safety. With warmer conditions when working inside and outdoors, it’s crucial to make sure everyone is protected. You should also ensure that everyone is up-to-date with the signs and symptoms of common heat-related illnesses and that they can identify these in themselves as well as in their colleagues.
Heat rash
Heat rash is an uncomfortable rash that can be caused by blocked sweat glands, which then causes inflammation.
Symptoms:
- Red and bumpy skin
- Prickly or itchy-feeling skin.
Note: it may be harder to recognize on darker skin tones.
Heat cramps
Heat cramps are involuntary muscle spasms. These can occur during heavy lifting and working in hot environments.
Symptoms:
- Tightening in the calves, arms, abdominal muscles, or back.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Heat exhaustion or heatstroke can be caused when your body is overheating. Often, this is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun or working in hot temperatures. Unfortunately, it’s a very common reason for workers to visit emergency rooms.
Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Feeling sick or nauseous
- Sweating
- Pale and clammy skin
- A high temperature
- A loss of appetite
- Extreme thirst.
Eye and face protection
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention), over 2,000 US workers suffer from job-related eye injuries every day. So, eye and face protection is a necessity at all times. It’s important to think about eye injuries as well as eye disease, both of which can happen in the workplace.
To prevent this, make sure your team is up-to-date with their personal protective eyewear requirements. This includes:
- Goggles
- Face shields
- Safety glasses
- Respirators
- Welding helmets or hoods.
Sun safety
Sun safety is always crucial but it’s particularly important this month for two reasons — July is very hot and it’s UV safety awareness month. When working outdoors, OSHA recommends:
- Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
- Wearing UV-absorbent sunglasses that protect the eyes from both UVA and UVB rays
- Drinking water every 15 minutes
- Taking frequent rest breaks in cool or air-conditioned areas.
When working outside, it’s best to gently acclimatize all staff to build a tolerance to the heat.
Hepatitis exposure
July 28 is World Hepatitis Day, so it is a good time to work this topic into your safety talks. While around 862,000 people in the US are expected to be living with long-term hepatitis B, a lot of people are symptomless or don’t even know they are infected.
Hepatitis B can be spread through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from an infected person. Many people don’t experience symptoms but Hepatitis B affects the liver — a critical organ. However, there is a vaccine to prevent infection.
Those who should receive the vaccine include:
- Individuals who are more at risk due to sexual exposure
- Anyone who uses drugs or shares needles
- Those who are in contact with blood or other bodily fluids
- International travelers
- Those with hepatitis C
- Anyone with chronic liver disease
- Those infected with HIV.
However, even if none of these risk factors apply to you or your colleagues, hepatitis B can be easily passed at work through sharing drinks or even broken skin. So, make sure everyone understands how it is spread and maintains appropriate hygiene.
Insect safety
As the temperatures hit their peak in North America and we work outside more, insect safety is a topic that is often forgotten. However, besides the annoyance of insect bites, it’s also important to think about any diseases that can be transmitted by these little creatures. One bite from an infected mosquito could cause a range of viruses, including Zika, Dengue Fever, and the West Nile virus.
Workers can protect themselves by:
- Using clothing that covers hands, arms, legs, and other exposed areas
- Checking sources of standing water (and getting rid of them) as mosquitos can lay eggs here
- Using insect repellant
- Covering the back of the neck with a longer hat
- Washing any skin that has insect repellant on it when going back indoors.
The National Safety Council (NSC) has put together a guide around mosquitoes in particular, as they are so prevalent in July, August, and September. You can download it below.
Traveling safely
July 11 – July 17 this month is Operation Safety Week from The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). This year’s focus is on speeding.
Another reason to hold this safety talk with your team is the overwhelming frequency of vehicle-related incidents. OSHA reports that every 12 seconds, someone dies in a car crash in the US. And in 2018, the CDC said that 1,276 US workers driving or riding a vehicle on a public road died in a work-related crash.
Besides reinforcing the importance of general workplace vehicle safety, it’s also worth referring to OSHA’s guidelines on speeding. Even though the agency doesn’t have specific limits, it suggests reviewing consensus standards such as ASME B56.1-2000 Safety Standard For Low Lift and High Lift Trucks to calculate sensible speeds. However, they do note that other factors should be considered, too, such as:
- The type of truck
- Manufacturer’s limitations
- The load carried
- Stopping distances
- Surface conditions
- Proximity to pedestrians or those on a bike.
Fall protection
Due to the heat in July, many workers may find themselves fatigued, exhausted, or struggling to concentrate. However, we shouldn’t forget the evergreen topics that are essential in warm and hot months. Fall protection is one of them.
To keep everyone safe in July, review critical fall protection topics such as harness inspection requirements.
FAQ
What can you do to prevent heat exhaustion?
To prevent you and your colleagues from getting heat exhaustion, be sure to:
- Take regularly scheduled breaks when working outside
- Acclimatize to working in the heat
- Drink plenty of fluids (cool fluids if possible)
- Work in the shade where possible
- Wear appropriate clothes that allow airflow
- Wear a hat to shield your face from the sun, unless a helmet is the appropriate PPE on site.
What are the types of eye injury?
Of the 2,000 daily US worker eye injuries, there are three main types of eye injury:
- Striking or scraping: Small particles or objects striking or scraping the eye.
- Penetration: Larger objects such as staples, nails, or smaller pieces of wood penetrating the eyeball.
- Chemical and thermal burns: Chemicals or cleaning products can damage eyes and the surrounding tissue. This also applies to thermal burns obtained by welders.
What are the signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. The signs of Hepatitis B include:
- Fever
- Fatigue and tiredness
- A loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine and a change in bowel movement color
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Conclusion
In July, heat-related topics take priority to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible. Remember, heat topics aren’t just meant for those working outside. Indoor workers such as those in kitchens, bakeries, laundries, etc. need to be protected from high temperatures, too, due to the heat-generating machinery they work with.
Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for next month’s article: August safety topics.