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1. Cal/OSHA Consultation Service
2008
2. Heat Illness Prevention Safety Basics
POTABLE DRINKING WATER
SHADE ALLOWING THE BODY TO COOL
PREVENTATIVE RECOVERY PERIODS
EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISOR TRAINING
WRITTEN PROCEDURES
3. Enforcement Experience25 Serious Heat-Related IllnessesMay November 2005
Agriculture 38%
Construction 29%
Service 12.5%
Transportation 12.5%
Public Safety 8%
4. What was discovered 68% of employees spoke Spanish
Ages 17 to 76 yrs
84% of cases involved outdoor work
92% of work was moderate ? strenuous
46% of cases happened the 1st day on the job
36% required hospitalization for more than 24hrs
54% of cases resulted in death of the employees
5. Environmental & Physiological Factors
Average
Ambient air temperature 96 F (75 - 116 F)
Humidity 29% (12% - 55%)
Wind speed 7mph
Core body temperature 104 F (98 - 108 F)
6. Worksite Conditions
Potable water present - 100% of cases
Shade available - 77% of cases
80% of employers had a written IIPP
20% had written Heat Illness Prevention Policy
36% had an Emergency Action Plan
7. Worksite Conditions
Heat Wave - a sudden and temporary rise of temperature above the seasonal average for a particular region, which last for a prolonged period of time
Greatly increases the risk of heat illnesses
8. Heat Wave ImpactTemps/Day/Date/Cases
10. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - More Vigilance
Supervisors/employees watch each other very closely & provide more frequent feedback
Avoid working alone - buddy system
Designate person - closely monitor/report employees conditions
Account for employee whereabouts throughout the work shift and end of the day
11. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - More Water
Employees should drink small quantities of water more frequently before, during and after work
Effective replenishment of extra supplies of water
Encourage employees to consult with their doctor on salt/mineral replacement
12. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - More Cooling
Use other cooling measures in addition to shade
Spraying body with water/wiping with wet towels
Additional/longer breaks in the shade
13. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - Change Schedule
Start work earlier or later in the evening
Split-up work shifts - avoid working in hotter parts of the day
Cut work shifts short or stop work
14. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - Change Meals
Encourage employees to:
Eat smaller/more frequent meals ( less body heat during digestion than with big meals)
Choose foods with higher water content (for example, fruits, vegetables, salads)
15. Worksite Conditions
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Acclimatization Warning
Even employees previously fully acclimatized are at risk for heat illness
Body needs time to adjust to sudden, abnormally high temperatures or other extreme conditions
16. Heat Illness Prevention 3395(a) Scope and Application Applies to the control of risk of occurrence of heat illness in all outdoor places of employment
Does not exclude other Title 8 requirements, such as, IIPP, drinking water, first aid
17. 3395(b) Definitions Heat Illness" means a serious
medical condition resulting from the
body's inability to cope with a
particular heat load, and includes
heat cramps, heat exhaustion,
heat syncope and heat stroke.
"Environmental risk factors for heat illness" means working conditions that create the possibility that heat illness could occur, including air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat from the sun and other sources, conductive heat sources such as the ground, air movement, workload severity and duration, protective clothing and personal protective equipment worn by employees.
18. 3395(b) Definitions
19. "Shade" means blockage of direct sunlight. Canopies, umbrellas and other temporary structures or devices may be used to provide shade. One indicator that blockage is sufficient is when objects do not cast a shadow in the area of blocked sunlight. Shade is not adequate when heat in the area of shade defeats the purpose of shade, which is to allow the body to cool. For example, a car sitting in the sun does not provide acceptable shade to a person inside it, unless the car is running with air conditioning. 3395(b) Definitions
20. 3395(c) Provision of Water
Sufficient amounts of cool water available at all times w/at least one quart per employee per hour for the entire shift
Easy access to clean and cool water encourages frequent drinking
Keep the water replenished
21. 3395(d) Access to shade Preventative Recovery Period (PRP) is necessary if an employee is suffering from heat illness or believes that a rest break is needed to recover from the heat
Employees must have 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 5 minutes
22. 3395(d) Access to shade
23. 3395(e) Training Recognition of Environmental & Personal Risk Factors
Procedures for Complying with the Regulations
Importance of Frequent Consumption of Water
Importance of Acclimatization to Working Conditions
Recognition of Signs/Symptoms of Heat Illnesses
Importance of Reporting Signs/Symptoms to Supervisor
Procedures to Follow When Heat Illness is Reported
Procedures to Contact Medical Services
Means & Methods Available to Transport Ill Workers
Procedure to Ensure Clear/Concise Directions are Given to Emergency Medical Responders to Locate the Worksite
24. Employee Training The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness
Importance of frequent consumptions of small quantities of water
Importance of acclimatization
Different types of heat illness, common signs and symptoms
25. Employee Training Importance of immediately reporting signs/symptoms of heat illness to supervisor
Procedures for responding to possible heat illness
Procedures for contacting and directing emergency medical services to the worksite
26. Section 3395(e)(1)Employee Training Employers procedures that ensure clear and precise directions to the work site will be provided to emergency medical service providers.
27. 3395(e)(2) Supervisor Training Same information required under employee training PLUS
Procedures to follow to implement the applicable provisions of the standard
Procedures to follow when an employee exhibits symptoms consistent with heat illness, including emergency response
29. Employers Written Procedures Written policy addresses controlling the risks of heat illness and includes all the elements in Section 3395
Policy and procedures can be integrated within the IIPP
Training provided to all employees to recognize heat illness hazards before starting to work outdoors
Procedures must be made available to representatives of Cal/OSHA upon request
30. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
Internet Resources Cal/OSHA & NIOSH
http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/