Employment / 1 min read
The best part of waking up is taking a sip of Red Bull in your cup. We all know that it is not how the famous slogan goes, yet for many folks, coffee is skipped for a more caffeinated and potent pick me up early in the morning. But a healthy 28-year-old fitness and energy drink devotee recently passed away from what is believed to be related to her over-consumption of energy drinks and pre-workout both of which contain high doses of caffeine.
In general, a normal amount of caffeine will not influence your overall hydration. But if your heart is strained from hot temperatures and workload, high caffeine levels can add strain on your heart and the Texas heat increases the risk of hydration and cardiac stress.
While it is unclear if the Biden administration OSHA Heat Standard will ever go into effect, OSHA's general duty clause will still be used in heat-related hazards that are likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. Given that the likelihood of heat-related injuries is substantially heightened due to the consumption of energy drinks, allowing the consumption of such drinks greatly increases an employer's risk of a heat-related OSHA citation.
So, what should an employer do with Summer quickly approaching? To combat heat and dehydration, employers should ensure that employees have:
- Education on the importance of hydration and what should be avoided.
- Accessible and visible cool water (temperature less than 60° F);
- Encouragement to drink at least one cup (8 ounces) of water every 15-20 minutes while working in the heat, but no more than 48 oz (1½ quarts) per hour.
- Designation of a relief person so that workers can take a water break or have water brought directly to workers that cannot leave their work area; and
- A full-heat safety plan which includes acclimatation of new and returning employees and an employee buddy system.
At the end of the day, water is the fuel needed for the job, not caffeine. By taking proactive measures against the heat employers can protect their employees and avoid any unnecessary injuries and maintain compliance with OSHA regulations.