Cleanup crews must battle oil - and heat, humidity

By MARY FOSTER Associated Press Writer

BAY JIMMY, La. (AP) - The high-noon heat beats down like a fist along the Gulf Coast, but crews cleaning up the oil spill wear white plastic suits, with yellow boots and thick blue plastic gloves.

The suits protect the hundreds of workers cleaning up oil. But they also make for a sweaty - and potentially dangerous - mess as a heat wave sweeps across the region.

Forecasters this week issued an excessive heat advisory for unrelenting high temperatures across the region.

BP says more than 24,000 workers are assigned to the oil spill, but it's unclear how many of them are dealing directly with heat issues. The company says heat issues are reviewed every morning, and on-site supervisors are responsible for making sure workers take precautions.