TAILGATE SAFETY TOPIC

The Humboldt Builders’ Exchange Safety and Insurance Committee provide the following safety topic as a service to its members. These instructions do not supersede local, state or federal regulations.

HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION

By Judy Kerry, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This time of year as temperatures rise, Cal/OSHA advises employers to educate their managers, supervisors, foreman, and workers about the dangers of heat illness, how to recognize symptoms, and how to prevent it.

Heat illness refers to a serious medical condition that results from the body’s inability to cope with heat.  It can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke.  Often, heat illness symptoms are overlooked or ignored, so, education is critical.  The goal is to prevent heat illness but if it happens, a fast, competent response can mean the difference between life and death.

The law requires employers to train all supervisory and non-supervisory workers on heat illness topics such as environmental and personal risk factors; procedures for identifying, evaluating, and controlling exposures and risk factors; frequent consumption of small quantities of water; acclimatization; the types, signs, and symptoms of heat illness; and procedures for responding to heat illness symptoms and for contacting emergency medical services.

New workers who have not been acclimated to work in hot temperatures are especially vulnerable, but all workers are at risk when a heat wave strikes and they’re suddenly working in temperatures to which they are not accustomed.  The longer a heat wave continues, especially when nighttime temperatures do not decline significantly, the greater the risk that employees will succumb to heat illness. Personal risk factors for heat illness include a worker’s age, degree of acclimatization, health, water consumption, alcohol or caffeine consumption, and use of prescription medication that affect the body’s water retention or physiological responses to heat.

It’s important for foreman to assess the day’s weather, the demands of the job, and the condition of the worker.  All workers must have access to potable drinking water, provided in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift, which is equal to or greater than one quart per employee per hour for drinking for the entire shift.  Workers should understand the importance of frequent water consumption- about 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes during the work shift- know where these fluids are located, and be encouraged to drink about two glasses of water or other non-alcoholic cool drink before beginning work and after work to replace what may be lost during the work day.  Employers may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have effective procedures for replenishment during the shift as needed to allow workers to drink one quart or more per hour.

Access to shade must be permitted at all times.  Workers suffering from heat illness or believing a preventative recovery period is needed, must be provided access to an area with shade that is either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling for a period of no less than five minutes. ”Shade” means blockage of direct sunlight.  Canopies, umbrellas and other temporary structures or devices may be used to provide shade. 

Finally, workers should immediately report symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves or in coworkers. 

For more information regarding heat-related illness prevention, free workshops, training materials, and a copy of the heat illness prevention regulation, visit http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html

The above evaluations and/or recommendations are for general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. They are based solely on the information provided to us and relate only to those conditions specifically discussed. We do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, that your workplace is safe or healthful or that it complies with all laws, regulations or standards. © State Compensation Insurance Fund.

For more Tailgate Topics, visit www.scif.org

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Judy Kerry, SCIF

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