OSHA #BeatTheHeat

Social Media Toolkit

It’s time to #BeatTheHeat and educate workers about the dangers of heat exposure! We want

workers to know the signs of heat illness, know how to treat it and how to use it as an organizing

demand. We are asking allies to use this social media toolkit to advocate for restaurant workers,

who are often subjected to extreme temperatures. Excessive heat can be an organizing

demand, and we are inspiring workers to come together to demand safer working conditions by

creating #HeatSquads: groups of two or more workers who educate the workforce, monitor

working conditions and form part of the organizing committee. No worker should be subjected to

illness, injury, or worse, on the job. Let’s turn up the heat on workplace organizing and

#BeatTheHeat! Thanks for your support and don’t forget to tag ROC United!

Campaign Start: May 25, 2023

Content

Hashtag: #BeatTheHeat, #HeatSquad

Downloads: Palm Card, Images, Videos

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Tweet 9: Build solidarity and #BeatTheHeat by offering coworkers ice water or covering their

section while they take a break in the shade or walk-in. If you’ve been burned by your employer,

form a #HeatSquad and hold them accountable. DM to talk to an organizer!

Tweet 10: Want a safer workplace? #HeatSquads are groups of workers who monitor workplace

heat conditions, know the signs of heat illness, educate their coworkers and help organize their

workplace. #BeatTheHeat and support your coworkers today!

Tweet 11: A job for the #HeatSquad! Find the #CoolZones in your restaurant *before* extreme

heat becomes a problem: the walk-in, a shaded walkway, under the air conditioning vent, etc

and tell others. Move workers experiencing #HeatIllness to the #CoolZone to help them recover.

Tweet 12: A job for the #HeatSquad! Learn how to make a cold compress: run a kitchen towel

under cold water, wring it out and apply to the forehead, neck and/or wrists of a coworker who is

experiencing #HeatIllness. No worker should be left alone and all workers deserve a safe

workplace.

Tweet 13: A job for the #HeatSquad! Frequent breaks can help prevent heat illness. Learn the

meal and break laws in your city/state. If workers aren’t offered the breaks they’re due, work

with your coworkers to write a demand letter to keep your workplace safe.

Tweet 14: Did you know that wearing waterproof clothing is one of the risk factors for

experiencing heat illness? #BeatTheHeat by wearing breathable, lightweight clothing and

informing your coworkers so they too can stay cool at work!
Captions tag @roc_united on IG and @ROCunited on FB

Caption 1: #BeatTheHeat by recognizing the signs of heat illness in your coworkers: headache,

nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, confusion, thirst, heavy sweating & a body temperature

over 100.4F. Guide them out of the heat, grab them some water and place ice cubes on pulse

points such as the wrists & side of the neck.

Caption 2: No worker should have to tolerate extreme heat conditions. To keep your coworkers

safe, learn the signs of heat illness: confusion, nausea, dizziness, headache, irritability, heavy

sweating and a body temperature over 100.4F #BeatTheHeat

Caption 3: #BeatTheHeat: Did you know that 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen

during the first week of work? It takes time for your body to become acclimated to hot

environments such as restaurant kitchens or serving tables on the patio. Be a cool cucumber

and inform your new coworkers about staying hydrated and encourage them to take frequent

breaks in the walk-in cooler or shaded areas

Caption 4: Heat illness can happen whether you’re working in a poorly ventilated kitchen or

serving tables on the patio in the summer heat. #BeatTheHeat at your restaurant by

encouraging your coworkers to drink water every 15 minutes and placing ice cubes on pulse

points such as the wrists and sides of the neck.

Caption 5: Form a #HeatSquad committee with 2 or more coworkers to address extreme heat

conditions with the boss and increase compliance at work. No worker should have to endure

temperatures that result in illness, injury, or worse. Turn up the heat on your employer by

organizing your own Squad! #BeatTheHeat

Caption 6: #BeatTheHeat in hot restaurant kitchens and form a #HeatSquad with your

coworkers to create cooler solutions. By recognizing the signs of heat illness and preventative

measures, your squad can serve as the eyes and ears of your workplace to identify violations,

ensure proper hydration and demand workplace changes.

Caption 7: #BeatTheHeat in the workplace and build solidarity with your coworkers by offering

some ice water or covering their section while they take a break in the shade or walk-in. If

you’ve been burned by your employer, form a #HeatSquad and hold them accountable. DM to

talk to an organizer!

Caption 8: If you can’t #BeatTheHeat, get out of the kitchen and fire up your coworkers!

Organize a squad to demand solutions from the boss such as functioning air conditioning or
fans, increased ventilation, shaded patios, and access to cold water and breaks. Call it

#HeatSquad and have a #HotLaborSummer

Caption 9: Did you know that wearing waterproof clothing is one of the risk factors for

experiencing heat illness? #BeatTheHeat by wearing breathable, lightweight clothing and

informing your coworkers so they too can stay cool at work!