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Heat Stress Prevention Cal/OSHA: Let Workers Adjust to Heat Allowing employees to acclimate to the heat is one of the best defenses against heat-related illnesses and fatalities, according to the California Dept. of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DIR/DOSH), also known as Cal/OSHA.Letting workers adjust to changes in weather by gradually increasing their exposure and physical activity likely reduces the risk of heat-related issues. “Our studies of heat-related illnesses and deaths indicate that acclimatization is an important factor in the prevention of heat illness,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Len Welsh. “It is especially critical to be vigilant with new workers, during their first exposure to the high temperatures.” The risk of dying from heat illness appears to be highest for employees who just begin working in extreme heat, as the bodyneeds to adapt gradually to exertions in the heat and humidity. Most people adjust to the weather or acclimate within four-to-14 days of regular work levels, according to Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention data. “It is imperative to monitor your employees at all times during hot weather and allow those who are new to working in hot weather to gradually adapt to the daily routine,” said Welsh. Raising awareness is also an important key in preventing heat illness. California Heat Illness Prevention Standards require mandatory training for employees and supervisors. Information on acclimatization, encouraging employees to continuously drink water throughout the day, and taking frequent cool-down breaks or preventative recovery periods in the shade, among other actions are included in the mandatory training. In addition to the requirements outlined in the heat illness prevention regulations (section 3395 of Title 8), employers may consider starting the work-day early and pacing work activities for their workers. Other prevention techniques include increasing the number of water and rest breaks or preventative recovery periods on hot days and encouraging the use of a “buddy system” to monitor employees in the field. Employees who work indoors should take the same precautions as those who work outdoors in extreme heat, and follow similar measures under (section 3203 of Title 8) their employers’ Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Employers with workers near sources of heat or inside buildings with limited cooling capabilities must ensure that their Injury and Illness Prevention Program is effective and in writing. Cal/OSHA studies show effective reduction of heat illness depends on written procedures, access to water, access to cooler areas, acclimatization and weather monitoring, emergency response and employee and supervisor training. The following procedures have been created to assist the employer in crafting their heat illness prevention procedures. They provide the minimal steps applicable to most outdoor work settings, and are essential to reducing the incidence of heat related illnesses. In working environments with a higher risk for heat illness (e.g., during a heat wave, or other severe working or environmental conditions), it is the employer’s duty to exercise greater caution and additional protective measures beyond what is listed in this document, as needed to protect their employees. The employer must also be aware that other standards apply to Heat Illness Prevention such as the requirement to provide for drinking water, first aid and emergency response. To effectively establish your company procedures, carefully review the following key elements: • Provision of Water; • Access to Shade; • Written Procedures; • Training. Provision of Water Water is a key preventive measure to minimize the risk of heat related illnesses. Employees shall have access to potable drinking water. Where the supply of water is not plumbed or otherwise continuously supplied, water shall be provided in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift to provide one quart per employee per hour for drinking for the entire shift. Employers may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have effective procedures for replenishment during the shift as needed to allow employees to drink one quart or more per hour. Sample procedures include but are not limited to the following: • Bring at least 2 quarts per employee at the start of the shift, and • Supervisor/designated person will monitor water containers every 30 minutes, and employees are encouraged to report to supervisor/designated person low levels or dirty water. • Supervisor will provide frequent reminders to employees to drink frequently, and more water breaks will be provided. • Every morning there will be short tailgate meetings to remind workers about the importance of frequent consumption of water throughout the shift. • Place water containers as close as possible to the workers, not away from them. • When drinking water levels within a container drop below 50 percent, the water shall be replenished immediately; or water levels should not fall below the point that will allow for adequate water during the time necessary to effect replenishment. • Disposable/single use drinking cups will be provided to employees, or provisions will be made to issue employees their own cups each day. • Noise making devices, such as air horns, may be used to remind employee’s to take their water break. Access to Shade Access to rest and shade or other cooling measures are important preventive steps to minimize the risk of heat related illnesses. Employees suffering from heat illness or believing a preventative recovery period is needed, shall 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. Such access to shade shall be permitted at all times. Except for employers in the agriculture industry, cooling measures other than shade (e.g., use of misting machines) may be provided in lieu of shade if the employer can demonstrate that these measures are at least as effective as shade in allowing employees to cool. Sample procedures include but are not limited to the following: • Supervisor will set-up an adequate number of umbrellas, canopies or other portable devices, at the start of the shift and will relocate them to be closer to the crew, as needed. Equipment should be placed in close proximity (i.e., no more than 50-100 yards) to the work activity. • Employees have access to office or construction trailer, or other building with air conditioning. • Every morning there will be short tailgate meetings (in the employees’ language) to remind workers about the importance of rest breaks and the location of shade. • Non-agricultural employers can use other cooling measures if they demonstrate that these methods are as effective as shade. Written Procedures Written procedures help reduce the risk of heat related illnesses, and ensure that emergency assistance is provided without delay. The employer’s procedures shall be in writing and shall be made available to employees upon request. These include: Procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard; Procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including how emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary; Procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider; Procedures for ensuring that, in the event of emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. Sample written procedures include but are not limited to the following: • All employees will be trained prior to working outdoors; • Working hours will be modified to work during the cooler hours of the day, when possible; • When a modified or shorter work-shift is not possible, more water and rest breaks will be provided; • Supervisors will continuously check all employees, and stay alert to the presence of heat related symptoms; • Supervisors will carry cell phones or other means of communication, to ensure that emergency services can be called, and check that these are functional at the worksite prior to each shift; • Every morning, workers will be reminded about address and directions to the worksite and emergency procedures. Training Training is critical to help reduce the risk of heat related illnesses and to assist with obtaining emergency assistance without delay. Training in the following topics shall be provided to all supervisory and non-supervisory employees: (A) The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness; (B) The employer’s procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard; (C) The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water, up to 4 cups per hour, when the work environment is hot and employees are likely to be sweating more than usual in the performance of their duties; (D) The importance of acclimatization; (E) The different types of heat illness and the common signs and symptoms of heat illness; (F) The importance to employees of immediately reporting to the employer, directly or through the employee’s supervisor, symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves, or in co-workers; (G) The employer’s procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including how emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary; (H) The employer’s procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider; (I) The employer’s procedures for ensuring that, in the event of emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. FSM
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