Amid scorching heat, Mass. advocates urge precautions for vulnerable workers

Francisca Sepulveda, an organizer with the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, tells WBUR’s Stevee Chapman that heat can adversely affect people at as low as 80 degrees. With the humidity today making it feel closer to 100, workers should be extra careful.

• Who’s vulnerable: Sepulveda says it’s not just outside workers like construction crews, landscapers and roofers, but also those in often-hot inside areas like kitchens, laundromats and factories.
• Sepulveda’s advice: “Always consider water, shade and breaks.” When it’s this hot, that means sips of water every 15 minutes. And breaks should last 10-15 minutes, always in the shade, she said.
• Find a partner: Sepulveda also recommends the buddy system to spot signs of heat-related illnesses among coworkers, like abnormal behavior, confusion and difficulty speaking.
• When to call 911: Mass. General’s Dr. Ali Raja says that medical attention is required “whenever you start noting somebody getting confused or stopping sweating or even vomiting.” That’s a sign of not just heat exhaustion, but heat stroke. “Heat stroke is a real emergency and that’s going to need treatment in a hospital,” Raja told WBUR’s Amy Sokolow. “That’s not the kind of thing that you’re going to be able to handle yourself.”
• More advice: Read the full list of tips for staying safe — and the eight mistakes to avoid — if you’re going out in this heat.
• Zoom out: President Biden rolled out some new measures yesterday aimed at protecting workers from extreme heat.