Hot summer months pose special hazards for outdoor workers who must protect themselves against heat, sun exposure, and other hazards. Employers and employees should know the potential hazards in their workplaces and how to manage them.

Sun

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. There are no safe UV rays or safe suntans

Here’s what to advice on how to block those harmful rays:

Cover up. Wear tightly woven clothing that you can’t see through.

Use sunscreen. A sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 blocks 93 percent of U-V

rays. Be sure to follow application directions on the bottle or tube.

Wear a hat. A wide brim hat, not a baseball cap, works best because it protects the neck,

ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.

Wear UV-absorbent shades. Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive, but they should

block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Before you buy, read the product

tag or label.

Limit exposure. UV rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Heat

The combination of heat and humidity can be a serious health threat during the summer

months. If employees work at a beach resort, on a farm, or in a kitchen, laundry, or bakery, for

example, they may be at risk for heat-related illness. So, have them take precautions. Here’s what to advice:

Drink plenty of water before you get thirsty.
Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing—cotton is good.
Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
Eat smaller meals before work activity.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
Find out from your health-care provider if your medications and heat don’t mix.
Know that equipment such as respirators or work suits can increase heat stress.

Lyme Disease

This illness is caused by bites from infected ticks. Most, but not all, victims will develop a

“bulls-eye” rash. Other signs and symptoms may be non-specific and similar to flu symptoms, such

as fever, lymph node swelling, neck stiffness, generalized fatigue, headaches, migrating joint

aches, or muscle aches. Individuals who work outdoors are at increased risk, work such as construction,

landscaping, forestry, brush clearing, land surveying, farming, railroads, oil fields, utility lines, or park

and wildlife management. What to advice:

Wear light-colored clothes to see ticks more easily.
Wear long sleeves; tuck pant legs into socks or boots.
Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover feet completely.
Wear a hat.
Use tick repellants, but not on the face.