Heat warnings and mosquitoes. We need to be prepared. Stay hydrated and monitor workers for signs of heat exhaustion. When the heat is on workers may experience dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, cool skin and headaches. Here are a few tips to prevent heat exhaustion:
• Stay hydrated with water
• Make sure outdoor workers wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen
• Be aware that some protective clothing make increase the risk of heat-related illnesses
• Provide rest breaks and cool off areas
• Provide training on heat-related illnesses
Also, Mosquitos seem to be insane right now, and people default to using spray with DEET in it to prevent those itchy bites… but if you look at some of the sprays that have DEET, it says “harmful to humans and animals!” Natural repellants do not seem to work as well, but consider the pros and cons before dousing yourself in Muskol!
There are quite a few updates from Alberta OHS this month. Here are the updates:
1. Alberta OHS has made available Emergency response planning: an occupational health and safety tool kit. This provides employers information about the OH&S requirements related to emergency response planning. OHS Publication. Emergency response planning: an occupational health and safety tool kit (alberta.ca)
2. The Selecting respirators and masks publication focuses on the specific OH&S requirements for selecting respirators, masks and face shields for COVID-19. Just when we thought COVID-19 was a thing of the past. OHS Publication. Selecting respirators and masks (alberta.ca)
3. The Mould in the workplace publication was developed to help all workplace parties understand the risk of exposure and prevention of the harmful effects. Mould in the workplace (alberta.ca)
4. Did you know Alberta OHS defined a “work site” as a location where a worker is, or is likely to be, engaged in any occupation and includes any vehicle or mobile equipment used by a worker in an occupation? A vehicle used for work purposes while away from the work site (such as when being driven to deliver a parcel or being driven to another office) is itself considered a work site. For this reason, the hazard assessment requirements apply to such vehicles, whether they are personal or work vehicles. The Vehicles as work sites publication outlines the OHS requirement Vehicles as work sites (alberta.ca)
5. The Workplace health and safety after a flood describes new hazards that can be introduced in a once safe work site. It also outlines conducting a hazard assessment before entering a building after a flood and the appropriate PPE to be used by workers for job tasks. Workplace health and safety after a flood (alberta.ca)