One of the things that safety professionals often discuss in the workplace is hearing conservation. Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common work related injuries in many countries with an estimated 22 million US workers exposed every year.

There are two popular points of view: “We need to get a program started” or “We have a program in place and we no longer worry about it.” For many, working for a reputable company with a hearing conservation plan in place would appear to be the “happily ever after” for hearing conservation issues.

Would it shock you to learn that between 1995 and 2007, there were 31 deaths due to heat injury in high school football programs all across the USA? Would you believe there were 2,550 injuries resulting in days away from work and 34 fatalities due to heat exposure in 2013? Between 1997 and 2006, heat related injuries increased by 134 percent. The most tragic aspect of those injuries and fatalities is that, with a little education and a little preparation, heat stress is preventable.