Summer has arrived and the heat is on.
The Postal Service encourages all employees who work in hot conditions to:
• Hydrate before, during and after work — even if they don’t feel thirsty.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable clothing.
• Avoid direct sunlight whenever possible. Apply sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and use shaded areas to stay cool.
The Postal Service’s Heat Illness Prevention Program (HIPP) is designed to ensure that employees are educated about heat-related illness.
A heat safety awareness poster has been created as part of the program.
This poster is available for all facilities to download on Blue, as is a graphic that explains heat illness symptoms, first aid treatments and when to call 911.
HIPP is in place each year from April 1 through Oct. 31 and is triggered at any other time when weather reports issued by the National Weather Service for a particular work location indicate that the outdoor heat index temperatures are expected to exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit during a workday or work shift.
