
Sally Smart, technical safety specialist at W.W. Grainger, says products to help cool the body, which we featured in a giant roundup recently, are part of a three-part process for being safe when working in excessive heat.

âWhen we think about heat stress, itâs easy to think itâs all just âdew ragsâ and Gatorade, but the reality is, itâs a whole lot more,â Smart writes in an email. âWhile the goal is simple â âwe need to keep these people coolâ â the proper response actually should include three areas (or controls), and the order in which these are done is important. OSHA refers to this as the âThree Lines of Defense.ââ
Smart says injury and illness prevention starts with engineering controls that remove the heat, such as âportable air conditioners, fans, misters, shades, shelters and even garden hoses.â
Next come administrative controls: the development and implementation of written programs, policies and procedures and the associated training and awareness, she says.
âComprehensive programs often address things like: site assessment or monitoring weather conditions and understanding heat risk levels so appropriate actions can be taken; communication plans to address environmental changes throughout the day as changes occur; providing hydration (water, Sqwincher, Gatorade, coolers and hydration packs) and

knowing hydration types and best practices; adjusting for heat by considering work severity and duration, like scheduling work at cooler times of the day to avoid high heat, or setting specific rest periods and breaks; providing and using shade and other cooling; acclimatizing workers gradually when needed, which may mean workers new to the job, or less fit, or older workers; and then buddy systems and training and awareness for coworkers to help monitor each other, knowing how to recognize symptoms and perform proper first aid.â
After that comes the personal protective equipment, the cooling hats, vests and sunscreen.
