NORFOLK, Va. — Matt Boyce and his lawncare company, Greensward Solutions, work in the 757. The longtime groundkeeper-turned-business owner knows a lot about working in the heat.
"What I look for is more like a fishing shirt. They keep the guys a little bit cooler. We also provide them with big hats if they want to wear sun hats," Boyce said.
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S. This is why a new proposal from the US Department of Labor would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat.
But staying cool isn’t just for at work.
Andy Bowden an official with Virginia Beach Emergency Management puts out notifications on places for cooling relief and other safety notifications. He said that starting tasks earlier during high-heat days is safer than later.
"A lot of people expect the heat to be in the midday like 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00. That's when people do their yard work and shopping. We're trying to discourage that. Because a lot of the times the heat, the hottest part of the day will be in the evening time at 4:00 or 5:00,” Bowden said,
The new Labor Department rule would also require employers to train staff to respond if someone shows signs of a heat-related illness.
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