Working in the outdoors might be the dream for some but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t comes with some dangers as well. There are numerous incidents of employees being harmed or hurt due to improper oversight of outdoor working conditions, so let us take a look at some of the biggest dangers facing outdoor employees.
Heat and Cold Illness
American summers are relatively warm no matter where you live in the nation. And working in the heat can be particularly dangerous if employers are not following specific OSHA regulations. Heat illness is common problem for those in the construction and mining fields because they spend long, uninterrupted hours in the heat performing manual labor. Heat exhaustion is particularly worrying because it leads to loss of consciousness and possible falls. Working in the sun for years without proper protection can lead to sunburns and eventual skin cancer. In contrast, working in the cold can lead to things like hypothermia and cold burn.
Equipment Malfunction
When working outside, there are external factors like water, animals, weather and all of these things can contribute to an equipment malfunction. The best thing to do is to protect your tools and equipment with the proper safeguards. For wiring and hoses, use cable and hose protectors so that these crucial elements of your site are not tampered with by traffic or other industrial vehicles. For electric tools, OSHA regulations clearly state the importance of not overloading cable trays, this can lead to the tray breaking down the tray with excess heat and weight, leading to shock hazards and possible electrical fires. Both of which are extremely dangerous for your employers.
Environmental Hazards
Issues like lightening and dangerous weather can be dangerous elements for workers to work through. Things like hazardous plants and dangerous animals are other common sights for those who work outside. Be sure that your employees are trained to identify these plants and how to defend themselves from animals. If weather should take a turn for the worse, outdoor employees need to be fitted with the proper equipment and safety measures to withstand the elements until help arrives.
Heat and Cold Illness
American summers are relatively warm no matter where you live in the nation. And working in the heat can be particularly dangerous if employers are not following specific OSHA regulations. Heat illness is common problem for those in the construction and mining fields because they spend long, uninterrupted hours in the heat performing manual labor. Heat exhaustion is particularly worrying because it leads to loss of consciousness and possible falls. Working in the sun for years without proper protection can lead to sunburns and eventual skin cancer. In contrast, working in the cold can lead to things like hypothermia and cold burn.
Equipment Malfunction
When working outside, there are external factors like water, animals, weather and all of these things can contribute to an equipment malfunction. The best thing to do is to protect your tools and equipment with the proper safeguards. For wiring and hoses, use cable and hose protectors so that these crucial elements of your site are not tampered with by traffic or other industrial vehicles. For electric tools, OSHA regulations clearly state the importance of not overloading cable trays, this can lead to the tray breaking down the tray with excess heat and weight, leading to shock hazards and possible electrical fires. Both of which are extremely dangerous for your employers.
Environmental Hazards
Issues like lightening and dangerous weather can be dangerous elements for workers to work through. Things like hazardous plants and dangerous animals are other common sights for those who work outside. Be sure that your employees are trained to identify these plants and how to defend themselves from animals. If weather should take a turn for the worse, outdoor employees need to be fitted with the proper equipment and safety measures to withstand the elements until help arrives.
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