This summer has been one of the hottest summers on record. In New York City, heat-related illness can be very serious for those who work outdoors. Heat-related illness can lead to construction accidents. Humidity also plays a contributing role to heat-related illness for those who work outside.
Why Does Humidity Matter?
Both air temperature and humidity affect how hot you feel while working outdoors. The "heat index" takes both temperature and humidity into account. The higher the heat index, the hotter you feel, because sweat does not evaporate as quickly when the air is moist. Since evaporation of sweat from the skin is how we stay cool on a hot day, high humidity reduces our natural cooling potential and we feel hotter. The heat index is a better measure for estimating the risk to construction workers, landscapers and roofers, who suffer the highest rate of heat-related illness.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a free mobile application that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work site. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis stated, "heat-related illnesses are preventable. This new app is just one way the Labor Department is getting that message out."
