Transcript Workplace Heat Illness Prevention SU Office of Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Health & Safety Program x3-0448 4/15

Workplace Heat Illness Prevention
SU Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Occupational 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
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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
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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, loosefitting clothing and wide brimmed
hats
Work Planning and Supervision
• Worker acclimatization
People 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
Work Planning and Supervision
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
As Cal/OSHA requires, keep a local plan for heat illness
prevention:
1. Use the template provided in the SU Heat Illness Prevention GuideAppendix A.
2. The written plan shall minimally cover:
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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 prevention
4. The written plan shall be made available to employees at the
worksite
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Availability can be via smartphone
Supervisor Responsibilities-- Summary
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Obtain heat illness prevention training
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Develop and train staff on written local heat illness prevention
procedures
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On a daily basis, assess your staff’s heat stress potential
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Plan and manage work activities accordingly to reduce the risk of
heat stress
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Provide access to water and shade
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Ensure routine monitoring of staff during warmer weather
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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/15101.doc
• For questions or more information, call 723-0448