Another August heat wave has taken captive parts of the United States, including Texas, making this one of the hottest summers on record for much of the country. But just because the weather is hot doesn't mean that workers have any less to do. If fact, the dog days of summer is the busiest time for many laborers.

Today msnbc.com featured an article on the subject, highlighting the importance of outside workers getting the proper amount of rest, shade and water in these grueling outside jobs. The article stated that the extreme temperatures have caused illnesses and even some deaths throughout the country.

Government officials have recently stepped in, launching a campaign to remind employers and employees that they must be conscientious about staying cool during these hot months to prevent the thousands of heat-related illnesses that occur on the job annually.

"July was hottest on record in most of the U.S., and it's important for all employers and workers to be aware of this," said the assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "The symptoms of heat are often not easily recognizable."

What many employers and workers fail to realize is that heat isn't just an annoyance, it can kill. In 2009, 33 workers were killed because of heat-related cause. Workers in agriculture, mining and construction were the most likely to be affected, OSHA reported. Texas, along with California and Florida, had the highest number of heat-related.

OSHA has offered workers and their employers one simple message: "Water. Rest. Shade. The work can't get done without them."

If you are being required to work in the grueling heat, remind your employer of this message from OSHA. Not providing workers with these necessities to stay cool could result in fines and even personal injury lawsuits.

Source: msnbc.com, "Feeling the heat: Most dangerous summer jobs," Eve Tahmincioglu, Aug. 8, 2011.