Article provided by Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU)

Working in full sunlight can increase heat index values by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed a Heat Safety Tool app that provides vital safety information right on your mobile phone.

The App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite and displays a risk level for outdoor workers based on the heat index. Then, with a simple “click,” you can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness. Reminders can be set about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload on new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

The App is available for both Android and iPhone. For more information about safety while working in the heat, see OSHA’s heat illness webpage.