State Issues Heat Safety Tips

June 27, 2012

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana is experiencing extreme temperatures and high levels of humidity, two of the primary components that contribute to heat illness. Heat illness can be a matter of life and death. Employees exposed to hot and humid conditions, outdoors or indoors, are at risk, and employers must ensure that employees are protected. Heat-related illness is 100 percent preventable.

The Indiana Department of Labor is reaching out to employers and employees to caution about the hazards of working in the heat and are providing information about steps to prevent heat illnesses.

Below are three key steps to reducing the likelihood of heat-related illnesses:

1. Water: A worker should not depend on thirst to signal when and how much fluid to drink. In fact, most individuals exposed to hot conditions drink fewer fluids than needed because of an insufficient thirst drive. Workers should drink five to seven ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish necessary fluids.

1. Rest: Regular rest breaks aid workers in hot environments, whether the heat exposure is outdoors or indoors.

1. Shade: When work is performed outdoors, another important step to reducing heat illness is to provide shaded break areas. Shaded areas give workers necessary relief from the sun.

Employers and employees are strongly encouraged to learn about heat-related illnesses and take necessary precautions for prevention. To learn more about heat stress, visit www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness.

About the Indiana Department of Labor:

The mission of the Indiana Department of Labor is to advance the safety, health and prosperity of Hoosiers in the workplace. In order to make significant strides, we emphasize both enforcement and compliance assistance by employers. www.in.gov/dol

Source: Indiana Department of Labor

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
422 AM EDT WED JUN 27 2012

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-272000-
CARROLL-WARREN-TIPPECANOE-CLINTON-HOWARD-FOUNTAIN-MONTGOMERY-BOONE-TIPTON-HAMILTON-MADISON-DELAWARE-RANDOLPH-VERMILLION-PARKE-PUTNAM-HENDRICKS-MARION-HANCOCK-HENRY-VIGO-CLAY-OWEN-MORGAN-JOHNSON-SHELBY-RUSH-SULLIVAN-GREENE-MONROE-BROWN-BARTHOLOMEW-
DECATUR-KNOX-DAVIESS-MARTIN-LAWRENCE-JACKSON-JENNINGS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAFAYETTE...FRANKFORT...KOKOMO...
CRAWFORDSVILLE...ANDERSON...MUNCIE...INDIANAPOLIS...TERRE HAUTE...SHELBYVILLE...BLOOMINGTON...COLUMBUS...VINCENNES...BEDFORD...SEYMOUR
422 AM EDT WED JUN 27 2012

...NEAR RECORD BREAKING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...
...ELEVATED FIRE DANGER EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK...

A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXPAND INTO THE OHIO VALLEY FOR LATE WEEK...BRINGING THE HOTTEST WEATHER CENTRAL INDIANA HAS EXPERIENCED IN JUNE SINCE 1988. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES ON THURSDAY...AND IN THE UPPER 90S TO LOWER 100S ON FRIDAY. THESE FORECAST TEMPERATURES WILL FURTHER ADD TO THE WORSENING DROUGHT CONDITIONS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED ACROSS THE REGION. THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL
KEEP RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES LOW THROUGH FRIDAY... RESULTING IN HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES ON BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. WHILE SLIGHTLY COOLER WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED OVER THE WEEKEND...TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE 90S. A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY.

FURTHERMORE...INCREASINGLY DRY VEGETATION AND FUELS COMBINING WITH THE PROGRESSIVELY HOTTER TEMPERATURES...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS DROPPING TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 PERCENT AND WIND SPEEDS AT 10 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOONS WILL LEAD TO AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA TODAY. WINDS MAY GUST TO NEAR 30 MPH ON THURSDAY... CREATING EVEN MORE DANGEROUS FIRE CONDITIONS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY.

PEOPLE SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ARE URGED TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES SUCH AS WEARING LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING AND DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER OR OTHER NON-ALCOHOL OR DECAFFEINATED FLUIDS.
REMEMBER NOT TO LEAVE ANY PERSON OR PET IN PARKED VEHICLES AS THE TEMPERATURES WILL RAPIDLY RISE TO UNSAFE LEVELS.

Source: National Weather Service