It’s that time of year: everywhere you turn, you hear warnings about leaving children and pets inside cars that can heat up to incredible temperatures in the summer sun.

True, that’s a big risk at this time of year—but tiny tots and four-legged friends aren’t the only ones at risk. Adults are also vulnerable to heat related illness, which includes heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

These health conditions aren’t a summer-only problem. Any worker exposed to hot and humid conditions is at risk of developing heat related illness, and it can happen at any time of year. But some industries are more vulnerable to heat-related illness—and the problem can peak in the summer heat.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, many contractors are particularly vulnerable to heat related illness. In fact, among the industries most impacted by this health condition are construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; building and grounds maintenance; and landscaping services.

Each year, dozens of workers die and thousands fall ill from working in the heat—more than 30 percent of them occupied in the construction industry.

Contractors can do themselves a big favor by learning the signs of heat related illness, and making sure that their workers are trained to recognize them, too:

• Cold, pale, clammy skin
• A fast, weak pulse
• Heavy sweating
• Disorientation

The protective clothing and personal protective equipment that workers should be wearing to stay safe on the worksite can have an unintended negative effect of making them feel even hotter than they otherwise would—although wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended for helping to protect workers from heat related illness. (Those who work outdoors should also apply sunscreen regularly throughout the day.)

Employers should make sure that workers have access to shady, cool areas for breaks, and that they drink plenty of water or other fluids throughout the day (not drinks that contain caffeine, sugar, or alcohol, however).

If a worker shows signs of heat-related illness:

• Move the worker to a cooler location.
• Have the worker lie down and loosen any constrictive clothing.
• Apply wet, cool cloths to the worker’s skin.
• Have the worker sip water.

Be prepared to call 911 if the worker

• Is continuously vomiting
• Has a rapid, strong pulse
• Has a temperature above 103°F
• Has hot, red, dry, or moist skin
• Is unconscious

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