Don't Fry Day

Friday is "Don't Fry Day"; OSHA campaign reminds workers of the dangers of sun overexposure

As outdoor temperatures begin to rise, so does the chance of illnesses related to working outside. Heat stress and overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause deadly effects - both in the short and long run.

OSHA, which has long led a campaign to prevent heat illness in outdoor workers, has teamed up with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention to promote sun safety awareness.

The council has designated Friday, May 24 as "Don't Fry Day" to as a reminder to protect skin during exposure to the sun. The council estimates one American dies every hour from skin cancer, and there will be more than three million new cases of skin cancer in the United States this year.

OSHA is recognizing "Don't Fry Day" with a revised version of its Heat Safety Tool app. Available for iOS and Android devices in both English and Spanish, the app now has full screen color alerts for all heat conditions, improved navigation and accessibility options and compatibility upgrades.

The app provides heat illness prevention guidance specific to the user's current outdoor workplace conditions using weather data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The new version of the app provides the daily maximum heat index, allowing workers to prepare for extreme heat and enabling supervisors to plan work schedules accordingly.