Do you own a business that has employees that work outdoors? If your employees are working outdoors regularly, we want to help educate your team on working in the heat and how you can avoid claims. After all, in order to keep your claims minimal, and your insurance premium at a low affordable rate, it’s important to practice safety on the job. Here are ways you can ensure that your outdoor employees are safe on the job.
Dangers of Working in the Heat
The first thing you should be wary of with your outdoor employees is skin cancer. Most skin cancers are a result of exposure to UV radiation or rays. Each year, about 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed by the American Cancer Society, with an additional 76,380 cases of melanoma, which is the deadliest type of skin cancer out there.
Another common issue is damage to the eyes. When you are over exposed to UV radiation, that can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium (which is a non-cancerous growth that can obstruct vision).
The last major danger of being an outside worker is that the heat can weaken your immune system. Once again, exposure to UV radiation can unfortunately suppress proper functions in the immune system, and weaken the skin’s natural defense mechanisms as a result.
Working in the Heat
So what can you do in order to protect you and your employees to stay safe in the heat? We’re glad you asked!
- Rearrange the schedule if possible – if you can avoid sending workers outside during the times that UV rays are the strongest, it would be beneficial for them. UV rays pique from 10 AM to 4 PM regularly.
- Schedule regular breaks throughout the hot days – if your employees have time to get out of the sun in shade or a cooler area, it will help them get through the hotter days.
- Plan ahead – if you know that conditions will be rough outdoors, you can plan accordingly to stay safe in the heat. You can download a UV index app that breaks down hourly forecasts, and have your outdoor employees wear proper clothing for protection from UV rays and/or sunscreen.
- Educate your team – If you let your workers know to wear protective clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and stay hydrated, then you will experience less claims as a result.
Remember, even with the right precaution in place, working in the heat isn’t always easy. It’s always important to have the protection you need in the event of a claim. If you have any questions on your commercial insurance, reach out to any of our professional insurance agents today!
