Transcript Slide 1
Heat Illness Prevention
{insert school district name}
Courtesy of Schools Insurance Authority
Primary Objective:
• Increase awareness and commitment to the
safety and health of district employees
• Review the current heat illness prevention and
regulatory requirements
•
Access to water and shade
• High heat procedures
• Emergency response procedures
• Acclimatization methods
• Training
Access to Water
• Fresh, pure and suitably cold water is provided at all times at no
cost to employee
Located as close as practicable to the area where employees
are working.
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You must have at least one quart per employee, per hour for the
entire shift
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Replenishment containers must be reliable
Designate a person to periodically check for the coolness of the
water and water level
•
Remind employees not to wait until they are thirsty before drinking water.
Take regular sips throughout the day.
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Increase the number of water breaks during very hot weather
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Individual beverage containers can be used
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Use daily reminders to encourage employees to take regular water breaks
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Employers must provide 1 quart of drinking water per employee
per hour worked
• Shade will be present when the outside temperature exceeds 80
degrees.
• Shade must be open to the air or have ventilation/cooling provided
• Employees must take a minimum 5 minute cooling period
• Employees may take a preventative cool-down rest and will be
monitored for symptoms of heat illness.
Shade should accommodate the number of the employees on recovery or
rest periods.
•
The shaded area must allow the employee to assume a comfortable
posture without touching
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The shaded area must not expose them to another hazard
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Employers must always be able to provide shade promptly if requested
•Employers
should urge workers to take shade breaks if they feel too hot
“High Heat” is defined as temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Supervisors will:
Stay alert to weather conditions throughout the shift
Conduct pre-shift meetings to review high heat procedures
Monitor employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness
Adjust work schedules and tasks if needed
Remind employees to drink water
Closely supervise employees who need to acclimatize to working in
high heat
Employees will:
Use a “buddy system” to keep an eye on their coworkers.
Drink small quantities of water more frequently
Follow directions for rest and cool down periods
The Heat Illness Prevention Plan can be integrated into
the IIPP
Keep procedures on site and available to all
employees and Cal/OSHA representatives upon
request
Acclimatization is a process by which the body adjusts to
increased heat exposure. The body needs time to adapt when
working in hotter environments.
• Take it slower when a heat wave strikes or when starting a job
that newly exposes them to heat
• Supervisors or designees will closely observe employees for
signs and symptoms of heat illness
• Be extra vigilant with new employees
Training for
supervisors & employees
Train your staff before
working outdoors in heat
Know and follow your
district’s procedures
Be able to recognize and
respond to different types of heat illness
Know the environmental and personal risk factors for
heat illness
1. Provide access to water and shade
2. Monitor the weather
3. Institute high heat procedures
4. Address acclimatization
5. Train all employees and supervisors
6. Provide clear and precise directions to worksite
7. Respond to heat illness, provide emergency services without
delay
Most heat Illnesses are avoidable if the employee or
supervisor are trained to take the right actions before, during
and after working in indoor or outdoor hot conditions.
Heat illness includes the following:
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Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
Heat Cramps
Signs & Symptoms
• Muscle spasms usually in arms, legs or stomach
• Usually occur sometime after work, at night, or
when relaxing
• Caused by performing hard physical labor during
very hot temperatures when water is not replaced
quickly enough
• Can be painful but usually does not cause
permanent damage
If you suspect heat cramps do the following:
Rest briefly and cool down
Drink cool water or an electrolyte-containing sports drink like
Gatorade
Practice gentle, range-of-motion stretching and gentle
massage of the affected muscle group
Don't resume strenuous activity for several hours or longer
after heat cramps go away
Contact your supervisor immediately
If symptoms become worse call 911!
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is when the body’s internal temperature system is
overworked. Signs and symptoms may include:
•Feeling faint or dizzy
•Nausea or headache
•Muscle weakness
•Heavy sweating
•Rapid, weak heartbeat
•Low blood pressure
•Cool, moist, pale skin
•Low-grade fever
•Heat cramps
•Extreme fatigue
First Aid for Heat Exhaustion
If you suspect heat exhaustion do the following:
• Move the person to a cool location
• Lay them down, loosen their clothing, apply cool wet cloths
and fan them
• Have them drink cool water or electrolyte type drinks (no
caffeine)
• Monitor the person carefully. Heat exhaustion can become
heat stroke very quickly.
• Contact your supervisor immediately
• If symptoms become worse call 911!
Heatstroke is the most severe of the heat related
illnesses, often resulting from exercise or heavy work in
hot environments combined with inadequate fluid intake.
Risk factors include:
◦ young children
◦ obese people
◦ people who don’t sweat
◦ dehydration
◦ certain medications
◦ cardiovascular disease
Heat stroke can be potentially life-threatening. Look for the
following signs and symptoms:
May occur after heat cramps or heat exhaustion
High temperature of 104 degree Fahrenheit
Rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing
Elevated or lowered blood pressure
May be mistaken for a heart attack
Cessation of sweating
Irritability, confusion or unconsciousness
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or fainting
Headache, nausea or vomiting
If you suspect heatstroke:
Move the person out of the sun and into a shady or
air-conditioned space
Lay them down and loosen any restrictive clothing
Begin to lower their body temperature with cool
water, cold packs and/or by fanning
Have the person drink cool water or other
nonalcoholic and non- caffeinated beverages, if able
Do not give them aspirin or acetaminophen
Contact your supervisor immediately
Call 911 for medical attention!
Create a plan in advance on how you will do the following:
• Immediately respond to symptoms of heat illness
• Contact emergency medical services (be aware if
translation is needed)
• Have a plan if cell phone use is limited or unreliable
• Provide clear and precise directions to the worksite
• Understand the chain of command on how you will know
when these procedures have been invoked
Condition yourself (acclimatization)
Take frequent breaks
Provide water and shade to all worksites
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages
Drink plenty of liquids (hydration is a continuous process)
Wear lightweight, light colored clothing
Immediately report all unsafe conditions to your supervisor or
district’s office
This is not meant to be either a substitute for or a legal
interpretation of the occupational safety and health
regulations. Users are cautioned to refer directly to Title
8 of the California code of Regulations and the Labor
Code for detailed information regarding the regulation’s
scope, specifications, and exceptions and for other
requirements that may be applicable to their operations.