Summer Heat

The height of Summer is now upon us and as everyone knows this usually means that Temperatures and Humidity can cause problems.  Especially for Letter Carriers who are required to work long hours outdoor. Due to these factors, it is important for letter carriers to be vigilant against becoming sick due to heat related illnesses.

Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heat-related illness, from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke can result in death and requires immediate medical attention. Exposure to heat can also increase the risk of injuries because of sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and burns from hot surfaces or steam.

OSHA encourages outdoor workers such as Letter Carriers to learn the signs of Heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  People are often unaware that their exposure to heat is harmful until they need medical assistance. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches. Nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst and heavy sweating. If ignored, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention.  Indicators of heat stroke include confusion, fainting, seizures and dry skin.  

To help prevent heat related illnesses, OSHA’s message on the dangers of working in extreme heat or humid conditions comes down to three key words.

WATER

REST

SHADE 

OSHA has five key pieces of advice to help workers with protecting against heat-related illness.

1)      Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty.

2)      Rest in the shade to cool down

3)      Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.

4)      Learn the signs of heat illness and what to do in an emergency.

5)      Keep an eye on fellow workers when possible.

In addition, do not wait until your thirsty to drink.  In fact, start hydrated by drinking more fluids the night before work especially if the weather forecast calls for a high heat index for the following day.   Do not drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar.  (These cause you to lose more body fluid.) Avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.  When taking a break go to a shady area out of the sun or out of a hot vehicle. As Stated above wear a hat.  A wide brimmed hat such as a Letter Carriers Pit Helmet is ideal for protecting a carrier against the heat. To protect against Skin damage put on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. 

Lastly do not push yourself to the point where you risk becoming ill because some supervisor is insisting that regardless of any conditions you come back to the office at a predetermined time. In fact, in recent years there have been supervisors who have suggested that a carrier portion out their street breaks to allow for working on days where the conditions are extremely hot and or humid. The purpose of a carrier’s contractual street break is not to take it in say 2-minute segments to guard against hazarded conditions such as heat. Continue to take your contractual assigned street breaks in the manner they were intended for. (Such as 1 or 2 10-minute breaks in the street depending on your Local Memorandum of Understanding in your local office.)

If you are a Letter Carrier and a Supervisor instructs you at any time to break up your Contractual Street Breaks and Lunch breaks to prevent Heat Symptoms, then contact the Branch Office and speak to an officer. In closing, please work safely so you could return home to your family in a heathy and safe condition