A few weeks before scientists recorded August as the hottest month worldwide, UVI’s Caribbean Green Technology Center hosted a workshop for employers. Organizers said the goal was to introduce new federal workplace requirements.
The goal of the workshop, “Temperature Extremes in the Workplace,” was to introduce new guidelines from the U.S. Department of Labor for protecting workers from extreme heat and cold. It also described signs of heat stress, heat stroke, and other conditions workers suffer when exposed to heat and cold.
“Now that it’s part of the Federal Register, if you are an employer, an OSHA inspection can cite you for violations because now protecting your workers from heat is something that you have to do as an employer,” said Green Tech Center Director Gregory Guannel.
Information was presented by experts from the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute. “The main purpose was to think about mitigation strategies for heat but also how to identify signs of heat stress in people and in this case employees and co-workers,” Guannel said.
Participants included public- and private-sector executives from construction companies, restaurants, daycare centers, and public schools. Schools were the subject of extreme heat workplace complaints resulting in on-campus job actions.
“The event was on St. Thomas and St. Croix; it was modestly attended but those who attended really appreciated it,” Guannel said.
Those who joined the July workshop learned that some of the warning signs of heat-stressed workers often appear as something else. “The main thing is that when somebody suffers from a heat stroke, other people think that they are drunk or they are on drugs because they become completely incoherent,” Guannel said.
In conjunction with the workshop, the UVI center produced a brochure to share information with homeowners about what they can do to mitigate hot environments. Employers and workers who did not attend but want to know more are invited to visit a website — OSHA Safety in Paradise.
“The program addresses immediate problems and offers professional advice and help in maintaining continued effective worker protection. Employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management systems and even qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections,” says the introduction on the Safety in Paradise website.
The information and tips found on the website can be helpful for business owners, managers, and workers, according to Jeanine Francis-Brown, tech center administrator.
“Employees can reach out to us. Employees can reach out to employers and say, ‘Hey, there’s a free consultation that you can reach out to ask for additional information,’” she said.
Organizers hope the information will lead to safer work environments for at-risk workers.
