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Summer Work Safety Tips

While summer is one of the best times of year, it can also be one of the most dangerous.

Longer days, extreme temperatures and humidity, and blistering sun come together to create the perfect conditions for an accident or injury.

In fact, more workplace injuries occur during the summer months than any other time of year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

We’ve compiled these 10 summer work safety tips to help protect your employees from common summer safety hazards.

 

  1. Drink plenty of water. NIOSH, OSHA, and ACGIH recommend drinking every 15 to 20 minutes to stay cool and alert. Employers can encourage workers to stay hydrated by keeping individual containers of cool, clean water within reach at all times.
  2. Get out of the heat. Provide cool, shady areas for rest breaks and encourage workers to take preventive cool-downs when they feel the need to do so. See more heat safety tips here.
  3. Train employees on first aid for heat-related illness. OSHA offers some basic information on treating heat injuries here.
  4. Prevent mosquito-borne illnesses by providing employees with Insect repellant and installing screens to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside buildings.
  5. Protect your eyes and skin from UV exposure by wearing loose-fitting long sleeve shirts, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses or UV filtering safety glasses. Read more UV safety tips here.
  6. Don’t skimp on PPE. It may be tempting for workers to ditch protective gear in hot weather, which can put them at risk. Issuing appropriate hot-weather gear such as lightweight mesh safety vests and ventilated hard hats can help keep workers safe and comfortable.
  7. Revisit safe driving practices. With more drivers on the road and more construction zones, the summer months can be a dangerous time to drive.
  8. Remind workers to get enough rest. Heat, longer days, and busy weekends can leave workers feeling sluggish, which increases the risk of injury.
  9. Conduct severe weather drills. Thunderstorms and tornadoes are common during the summer months, so it’s important to make sure your workers know what to do if severe weather is approaching.
  10. Keep indoor spaces cool, too. Adequate ventilation and cooling are especially important for labor intensive and high-heat activities during the hot summer months.

Next steps: Download the Free Safety Calendar

Following these summer safety tips will help your workers stay safe at work and at home. For more ideas, download Perillon's free annual safety calendar. 

Download the free 2023 workplace safety calendar