Many workers spend hours each day in hot , humid weather conditions. Working in extreme heat can pose special health and safety hazards. By learning to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses and taking steps to prevent them, you can keep your employees safe, comfortable and productive.

Types of heat-related illnesses

Heat exposure can affect worker health in a number of ways.

Heat stroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature. Symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, convulsions and hot, dry skin. Heat stroke can be fatal unless treated immediately. If you suspect someone is the victim of heat stroke, call for medical assistance, move them to a shady or cool area and provide drinking water as soon as possible.

Heat exhaustion happens when fluids or sodium chloride lost through sweating aren't adequately replenished. The victim continues to sweat while experiencing extreme weakness, fatigue, nausea or headache. If an individual shows signs of heat exhaustion, have them rest in a cool place and drink fluids. If vomiting or loss of consciousness occurs, seek medical assistance immediately.

Heat cramps or muscle spasms can occur when sodium chloride is lost through sweating and isn't replaced. Tired muscles are susceptible to cramps, which can be relieved by increasing fluid intake. If the cramps or spasms are severe, medical attention may be required.

Heat rash occurs in hot, humid environments when sweat doesn't evaporate effectively. In severe cases, heat rash can become so uncomfortable that it inhibits sleep and impedes worker performance. To prevent heat rash, rest in a cool place.

The extent of stress each individual feels from heat exposure will depend on age, fitness and other factors.

Preventing heat-related illnesses

People need time to adapt to a hot work environment. Begin heat exposure for short periods and gradually increase. Give new employees or workers returning from an absence time to adjust to the heat. Follow these tips to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses:

• Provide plenty of drinking water in convenient, visible locations.
• Use power tools to reduce manual labor.
• Alternate work and rest periods in a cool area.
• Schedule intense work during the coolest part of the day whenever possible.
• Permit workers to stop and rest if they feel uncomfortable.
• Consider an individual's physical condition when determining their ability to work in hot weather conditions. People taking certain medications or with certain health conditions may be at greater risk.

It's important to educate employees about the need to drink plenty of fluids while working in a hot environment. Also, train all staff to recognize and treat heat-related illnesses. For more information, see the guide Occupational Heat Exposure from the U.S. Department of Labor.

When summer comes to mind, you think of green grass and sunshine. Unfortunately, summer can also mean extreme temperatures, high humidity levels and sudden storms. Is your facility ready? By taking action now, you'll ensure that your facility operates smoothly, comfortably and efficiently all summer long.

Cooling system maintenance

No matter what type of cooling system you use — chillers, packaged rooftop units, heat pumps, etc. — these measures will help optimize performance.

• Hire a qualified professional to inspect and clean your system. An inspection will help identify any problems and ensure that your system is running efficiently.

• Change air filters throughout your facility regularly. Dirty filters make your system work harder, wasting energy and reducing indoor air quality.

• Make sure your system is using the right type and amount of refrigerant. Too much or too little refrigerant can increase system operating costs.

• Check dampers to ensure that they are opening and closing correctly. Dampers can become stuck in position, rendering them ineffective at regulating airflow.

• Seal and insulate accessible ductwork. Conditioned air leaking through ductwork reduces cooling system efficiency. Aerosol spray technology can be used to seal inaccessible ductwork.

• Maintain a daily log of cooling equipment performance data. Comparing past results against current readings can help in spotting potential performance issues.

Around your facility

Take these actions to improve cooling system efficiency and increase comfort.

• Tune building controls. Poorly aligned building controls — such as thermostats, sensors and humidistats — can waste energy. Adjust them for the changing season or operating schedules.

• Make sure registers are unobstructed by furniture or equipment. Vents must be kept clear to ensure a comfortable and uniform airflow.

• Inspect windows and exterior doors for leaks. Leaks let conditioned air out of your building, wasting energy. Seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.

• Check building insulation levels. Proper insulation reduces cooling energy use and keeps occupants comfortable. Make sure your insulation levels meet ASHRAE 90.1 building energy efficiency recommendations.

Preparing for extreme summer weather

Summer storms and lightning can damage your facility and endanger staff. Make sure you're ready.

• Review and update your emergency plan. In any type of emergency, it's critical to have an updated plan in place. Include evacuation routes and closing procedures. Share your plan with your entire staff.

• Make sure your building is adequately safeguarded against lightning and power surges. Lightning arrestors protect your building from lightning by sending excess voltage safely to ground. Surge protection devices provide an additional line of defense for sensitive electronic equipment.

• Ensure that backup power is available and in working condition. Backup power keeps your facility operating during a power interruption. Inspect and test standby generators and other backup power equipment.

• Develop a cooling emergency action plan. Cooling system failure can reduce occupant comfort and productivity and threaten critical equipment. Backup options include temporary portable cooling or a permanent standby cooling system.

With these measures, you can optimize comfort and efficiency, and keep your facility operating, no matter what summer weather comes your way.

You may not own your apartment or home, but you still have to pay the bills. The following simple changes won't cost you much and they can make a big difference on your energy budget. It's a great way to reduce your impact on the environment as well.

1. Focus on lighting. Replace conventional incandescent lightbulbs with ENERGY STAR®-certified LEDs. These bulbs are at least 80% more efficient and last much longer.
2. Adjust the thermostat. Raise or lower temperatures (depending on the season) at night and when you're away from home. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to optimize savings while maintaining comfort.
3. Go unplugged. Many electronic devices continue to use power when they're turned off or not in use. Unplug battery chargers and any other devices when it's convenient. Use a power strip as a central point to shut off power to clustered devices.
4. Take shorter showers. The typical shower uses 30 to 50 gallons of hot water, costing you money. Limit your time in the shower to 10 minutes or less. Install water-efficient showerheads; it's a low-cost upgrade that can reduce energy and water use.
5. Cook up energy savings. Cooking at home is a great way to make healthy meals. Cover pots and pans to cook food more efficiently, and match them to the size of the burner. Use a microwave oven to heat food whenever possible. Scrape dishes instead of rinsing before loading them into the dishwasher, and run it only when full.
6. Use window treatments. Close window treatments on south-facing windows in summer to keep out solar heat during the day. In the winter, open curtains or drapes during the day to let in the warmth of the sun; close them at night to retain heat.

Talk to your landlord or property manager about additional energy efficiency improvements. High-performance windows, ENERGY STAR appliances and other upgrades will not only help reduce your energy bills, they're also a great investment. Studies have shown that such upgrades can improve property value and increase occupancy rates.

Heat pumps move heat in and out of your home to provide efficient heating, cooling and humidity control. Air source units are the most widely used type of heat pump. They use the difference between indoor and outdoor air temperatures to heat and cool your home. Learn how air source units work and how they can benefit your home.

How air source heat pumps work

An air source heat pump system consists of a compressor and two coils made of copper or aluminum tubing; one coil is located indoors and the other one is located outdoors. In the winter, liquid refrigerant in the outdoor coil converts into a gas after absorbing heat from the air. In the indoor coil, heat is released from the gas refrigerant as it condenses back into liquid.

How does cold air provide heat? Hot and cold are relative terms. All outside air down to absolute zero (-460°F) contains some heat. An air-source heat pump extracts some of this heat and moves it indoors to provide space heating.

In the summer, an air source heat simply works in reverse to provide highly efficient cooling. It takes heat from the warm indoor air and moves it outside.

Split-ductless air source heat pumps — also called mini splits — don't require ductwork, making them perfect for additions or homes without ducts. Ductless systems include an outdoor unit and one to four indoor air handlers. Tubing that circulates refrigerant connects the indoor and outdoor units. The indoor air handlers are typically mounted on a wall or ceiling and are controlled remotely.

Air source heat pump efficiency

Air source heat pump heating efficiency is measured by heating seasonal performance factor — the total heating output of the unit during the heating season divided by the electricity consumed. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the unit. ENERGY STAR®-qualified heat pumps must have a minimum HSPF of 8.5.

Cooling efficiency for air source heat pumps is indicated by seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) — the total amount of heat removed from the home during the cooling season divided by the energy used. Once again, a higher SEER is better. ENERGY STAR units must be rated at 15 SEER or higher.

Air source heat pumps can reduce your energy use for heating by 50% compared to conventional technologies, such as furnaces and electric resistance heating. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioning systems, resulting in improved comfort and lower energy usage in the summer.

Air source heat pumps work best in moderate climates with mild winters, though advances in technology have made them a good option for other areas, as well.

If your heating or cooling system is older or you are considering an addition, an air source heat pump is a good choice for cost-effective year-round comfort.

Are you planning a facility expansion or landscaping project that involves digging? Your location may contain underground utility lines. Call 811 before you dig. Knowing where utility lines are buried can help you avoid injury, service outages and costly repairs.

Call 811 from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging, and you will be routed to your local call center. Tell the operator where you will be digging, what type of work you will be doing and when. Within just a few days, your local utility companies will visit your site and mark the location of any underground lines, free of charge.

Each utility type is marked with a specific color:

• Red for electric
• Yellow for natural gas
• Orange for telecommunications
• Blue for water
• Green for sewage

Who's behind the 811 number? The 811 campaign is operated by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an association created to work with the utility industry to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure and ensure public safety. Although a private association, CGA grew out of a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative to protect underground utilities.