INSST informative poster on labor protection against heat

Thermal heat stress is especially dangerous in summer in outdoor work in sectors such as construction, agriculture or public works work that have this risk more present on the hottest days of the year.

In the summer, the weather conditions to which workers are exposed can be the cause of work accidents and the cause of the problem is not only the high temperature, but also the excessive accumulation of heat in the body, which can be produced both by high temperatures and by the heat generated by the body during intense physical activities. In addition, there are personal factors that increase the risk of accidents, such as the fact that workers may suffer from previous ailments such as cardiovascular, respiratory diseases or diabetes.

The National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) has recently published the informative poster titled In the face of the heat: protect us, protect yourself with the aim of offering simple recommendations to safely approach work in the hottest moments of the year, of course without forgetting the health crisis situation that we live.

Always keeping in mind the fundamental rule of maintaining a safety distance, it is also important to remember that the mask must not be removed except in specific situations such as:

• Before drinking, eating or smoking, but washing your hands first.
• To wipe sweat from your face.
• When washing your hands, remove the mask by one of the bands and dry the sweat with a clean tissue.
• Never share a water bottle.
• Do not expose the hydroalcoholic solution to heat sources.

If a person suffers from heat stroke, the emergency room must be notified and if first aid has to be performed, always do so safely using, for example, respiratory barrier devices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Likewise, it is recommended to avoid the hottest hours as much as possible, trying to work in the shade, remembering that:

• Try to avoid working alone.
• You have to take more breaks than usual and in cool places.
• Constantly hydrate and protect yourself from the sun with appropriate clothing, glasses and hats.
• Do not forget the sun protection cream, even under the mask.
• When exposed to the sun, we prioritize washing hands with soap and water.

Fraternidad-Muprespa has prepared a specific section dedicated to Coronavirus on its web portal Previene with all the information of interest related to the prevention of occupational risks and health care in the pandemic we are experiencing.

AsMutually Collaborating with Social Security, we want to help you in the daily management of the crisis and that is why we offer you all the updated information at the legislative level, as well as the action guides and preventive procedures on the COVID-19 from official sources and organizations that may be useful for your company at this time.