Workplace Heat Illness Prevention

SU Office of Environmental Health & SafetyOccupational Health & Safety Program

x3-0448

4/15

Outline

• Heat illness– Risk factors– How the body handles heat– Types of heat illness

• Prevention of heat illness– Water consumption, shade, and cool-down rests– Importance of acclimatization

• Emergency response procedures• Supervisor guidelines

Cal/OSHA Standard

• 8 CCR 3395- Heat Illness Prevention• Applies to outdoor places of employment with

heat illness potential• Requirements

– Heat illness prevention training for supervisors and employees

– Local procedures for heat illness prevention

Heat Illness

Risk Factors for Heat Illness

• Weather conditions– Higher temperatures– Higher humidity– Air movement– High radiant heat (e.g. sunshine)– High conductive heat (e.g. ground)

• Higher intensity and/or duration of physical activity

• PPE/ clothing can be a factor (i.e., tyvek coveralls)

Personal Risk Factors

• Poor physical condition*• Older age• Degree of acclimatization• Low water consumption• Some medications*• Use of alcohol/ drugs

* Recommend checking w/ personal physician about heat illness risk

How the Body Handles Heat

• The body tries to keep a constant internal temperature

• As internal temperature rises from activity, the body cools itself by:– Increasing blood flow to skin surface

– Releasing sweat onto skin surface

• When the body can no longer cool off, mild symptoms of heat illness can quickly turn serious and life-threatening

Heat Exhaustion

• Cause: – Excessive loss of water and salt through sweat

• Signs & Symptoms:– Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

– Weakness and moist skin

– Muscle cramps

– Mood changes such as irritability or confusion

– Upset stomach or vomiting

Heat Stroke

• Cause: – Total breakdown of body’s cooling system

• Signs & Symptoms:– Sweating stops-- skin is hot, red, and dry– Mental confusion, losing consciousness– Fainting– Seizures or convulsions

Treat as a medical emergency! Can be life threatening.

Emergency Response Procedures

For any of the previously mentioned symptoms:• If first-aid trained personnel are not available on-site to provide

assessment, immediately call 911 or 9-911 (from a campus phone) OR transport to Stanford Hospital Emergency Room

• While waiting for help:– Move victim to cool area– Give small cup of water (if conscious and not nauseous)– Loosen and/or remove clothing– Fan and mist the person w/ water– Apply a water-soaked towel (or ice pack wrapped in towel) to head and ice

pack to armpits• Contact supervisor immediately• Anyone with symptoms must never be sent home or left unattended

without a medical evaluation• SU Occupational Health Center follow-up for employees evaluated for

heat illness

Prevention of Heat Illness

Stay hydrated: Don’t forget to drink!

• Employees shall be provided enough cool, fresh drinking water for all work hours.

• Recommend drinking at least four cups per hour for the entire shift.

Cool down in the shade

• When warmer than 80°F, a shaded

rest area shall be provided at or

nearby the work area.– When < 80°F , shade shall be provided

upon employee request.

• Whenever needed, take a cool-down rest in the shade to help prevent overheating. – Tell your supervisor if you feel symptoms of heat illness– Take at least 5 minutes to rest in the shade– Do not return to work until symptoms have gone away

Supervisor Guidance

Work Planning and Supervision

• Assess conditions– Weather forecasts - http://nws.noaa.gov– Current weather -

http://weather.stanford.edu* Note: high humidity drives up the heat

load

• For warmer periods:– Schedule outdoor work during cooler

parts of the day– For most strenuous tasks, plan a staff

rotation– Advise staff to wear lighter, loose-

fitting clothing and wide brimmed hats

Work Planning and Supervision

• Worker acclimatizationPeople adapt to weather changes within 4-14 days. To minimize the risk of heat illness:–Employees shall be closely monitored by supervisor/designee during a heat wave*–For new employees and those returning from extended leave/ illness, closely monitor them for 14 days by:

• Directly observing them, or • Having a mandatory buddy system

*Cal/OSHA defines heat wave as temperatures of 80 degrees F or warmer and at least 10 degrees F warmer than the average daytime temperature of the previous 5 days

For outdoor temperatures ≥ 80°F, supervisors shall:•Provide shade at/ nearby worksite for employee rest breaks.

– If not safe or feasible to provide shade, alternative cooling measures with equivalent protection are required.

•Encourage staff to take cool-down rests in the shade as needed to avoid overheating

– IMPORTANT: During cool-down breaks, staff shall be monitored and asked if they are experiencing heat illness symptoms

•Provide effective means for employees to contact the supervisor and emergency services

•Ensure close observation of:– All staff during a heatwave– New employees and employees returning from extended absence

Work Planning and Supervision

High Heat Procedure-- when outdoor temperatures higher than 95°F, supervisors shall:•Ensure all of the previously noted actions. •Regularly monitor employees for alertness and signs/ symptoms of heat illness via:

– Direct supervision, buddy system, phone/radio communication, and/or other means of observation.

•Conduct pre-shift meetings to review:– How employees are to be monitored during the day– Reminder to drink plenty of water throughout the day– The employee right to take cool down rests as needed

Work Planning and Supervision

Work Planning and Supervision

As Cal/OSHA requires, keep a local plan for heat illness prevention:1.Use the template provided in the SU Heat Illness Prevention Guide- Appendix A.2.The written plan shall minimally cover:

• Procedures for providing water and access to shade• High heat procedures• Emergency response procedures• Acclimatization methods and procedures

3.Employee and supervisor training shall include these local procedures for heat illness prevention4.The written plan shall be made available to employees at the worksite

• Availability can be via smartphone

Supervisor Responsibilities-- Summary

1. Obtain heat illness prevention training

2. Develop and train staff on written local heat illness prevention procedures

3. On a daily basis, assess your staff’s heat stress potential

4. Plan and manage work activities accordingly to reduce the risk of heat stress

5. Provide access to water and shade

6. Ensure routine monitoring of staff during warmer weather

7. Be able to recognize warning signs of heat illness

1. Promptly respond to symptoms of heat illness!

For Additional Information

EH&S- Occupational Health and Safety Program• Find more information on heat illness prevention at:

http://web.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/mainrencon/occhealth/15-101.doc

• For questions or more information, call 723-0448