First published on July 13, 2015 in observance of the COPH’s 30th anniversary celebration. Founded in 1997 by a training grant supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Sunshine Education and Research Center at the USF College of Public Health stemmed from an industrial hygiene training […]
Thousands of indoor and outdoor workers are exposed to heat risk each year, and even killed as a result of heat overexposure.
Historically, July has been recorded as one of Florida’s hottest months. Although this is great news for visitors flocking in from throughout the country to our beaches and attractions, this presents new challenges for Florida’s workforce.
Co-written by: Dr. Thomas Bernard, University of South Florida Faculty andDavid Ashman, USF SafetyFlorida Safety Consultant Although summer has officially ended and autumn is here, the hot weather has been relentless in the sunshine state, especially in the southern region. The blistering heat has broken record highs this year alone. Those working outside in construction or agriculture are especially at risk. Workers’ exposed to extreme heat are at greater risk of heat-related disorders like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Employers and employees must know the signs and symptoms of heat […]
Two USF College of Public Health faculty members traveled to the Capitol area to provide input on their various areas of expertise. Dr. Kevin Kip, distinguished USF Health professor, served on the FDA Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee and Dr. Thomas Bernard, professor of occupational […]
Hot weather is here and it’s no secret that extreme heat can be dangerous. In 2018, there were 108 heat-related fatalities and thousands of workers affected by excess heat exposure reported nationwide, making extreme heat the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in hot environments. Nonetheless, under the OSH Act, employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, which include heat-related hazards. […]
Dr. Thomas Bernard, chair of Environmental and Occupational Health at the USF College of Public Health, delivered the keynote message at a heat stress symposium in Sohar, Oman, the last week of April. The manifold purpose of the symposium was to share information on current heat stress prevention and management […]