Worker safety should be top priority for employers, and most businesses are already preparing for typical workplace hazards by using protective equipment meant to prevent risks such as slipping, falling, and pinching. But with the recent soaring numbers of deaths on the job due to extreme heat events, the federal and state governments across the country are now working harder than ever to encourage preparation for weather related hazards as well.
Those working outside or within the agriculture, construction, and factory industries are some of the most at risk for weather-related injuries. Monitoring a real time weather station on the jobsite is one of the most important improvements that can be made to protect employees from these inevitable dangers.
WORKER SAFETY REGULATIONS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has weather guidelines that require a business to maintain a safe working environment through extreme heat, cold, or natural hazards. Whether on a job site located outside, in a factory, or a retail building, it is the responsibility of the employer to adhere to OSHA safety guidelines and make the necessary preparations to protect their employees. Staying prepared and watching the weather forecast is one of the best strategies laid out in OSHA’s compliance plans.
Failure to adhere to these OSHA guidelines can endanger employees, resulting in massive fines, temporary shutdowns, and workforce displacement. Individual states might also have similar added consequences.
DANGERS ON THE JOB
There are several weather-related risks that face individuals throughout every workplace across the country, including extreme heat, extreme cold, and severe weather events.
CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASING THE RISKS
As our climate continually changes, we will continue to endure massive natural disasters and prolonged periods of unsafe weather conditions such as drought, heat waves, wildfires, and flash floods. In 2021, the U.S. experienced record-breaking natural disasters, including 18 events that cost the country over one billion dollars and destroyed countless lives (1). With 2022 already producing record-breaking heat waves, storms, and natural disasters, we all must prepare for these tremendously powerful events to become more common.
BENEFITS OF ON-SITE WEATHER MONITORING
There are many benefits to installing an on-site weather monitoring system, including improved worker safety, cost-reduction through increased job efficiency, and increased worker satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
With record-breaking natural events occurring more frequently in recent years, we all must prepare to endure massive natural disasters and prolonged periods of unsafe weather conditions such as drought, heat waves, wildfires, and flash floods that will lead to unsafe working conditions for millions of people. Installing an advanced on-site weather monitoring system, such as the TempestOne Weather System, is one of the most important improvements that can be made to protect employees from inevitable natural dangers.
Whether outside or in a building, it is the responsibility of the employer to adhere to OSHA guidelines and make the necessary preparations to protect their employees from conditions like extreme heat or cold, high winds, or severe weather. Businesses now have the advantage of collecting data using on-site weather monitoring systems that can predict weather conditions and alert of any potential threats like lightning strikes or incoming storms. These systems allow businesses to increase work efficiency and worker safety, helping them to maintain a happy and successful working environment.
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