1. Workplace Heat Illness Prevention
SU Office of Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Health & Safety Program x /15

2. Outline Heat illness Prevention of 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

3. 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

4. Heat Illness

5. 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)
More air movement reduces risk when < 95°F, increases risk when > 95°F
Higher intensity and/or duration of physical activity=
physical activity generates additional body heat

6. 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
Overweight– extra weight requires = more energy spent to work & reduces ability to release heat
Age– sweat gland response decreases w/ age
Alcohol/ some drugs– body dehydrates much quicker
* Recommend consulting with personal physician to check if condition(s) may increase risk for heat illness.

7. 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
Blood flow can cool internal body temperature, but doesn’t work well when outside air temp is warmer than body
Sweating is next step– but this will not work well w/ high humidity
So, heat illness risk is highest w/ extreme heat & humidity!

8. Heat Exhaustion Cause: Signs & Symptoms:
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 exhaustion is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid through sweating, often accompanied by excessive loss of salt.
Unlike heat stroke, someone suffering from heat exhaustion still is sweating heavily. Skin will be pale and cool.
The symptoms of heat exhaustion may resemble some of the early signs of heat stroke.

9. Treat as a medical emergency! Can be life threatening.
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.
Heat stroke is the most serious of the heat stress disorders. Is a total breakdown of your body’s cooling system.
Pumping blood to the skin surface and sweating becomes inadequate and your body temperature rises to potentially fatal levels.

10. 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 (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
Remember, early recognition of heat stroke is the only means to prevent death.
Until help arrives, provide the first aid described.

11. Prevention of Heat Illness

12. 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.

13. 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
Example shaded areas: Buildings, building or vegetation shadows (if large enough), shade tents, vehicles with air conditioning.
Where symptoms of heat illness are reported, trained first-aid personnel shall assess the employee. If trained first-aid personnel are not immediately available, follow emergency response procedures.

14. Supervisor Guidance

15. Work Planning and Supervision
Assess conditions
Weather forecasts -
Current weather -
* 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

16. 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
*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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Work Planning and Supervision
As Cal/OSHA requires, keep a local plan for heat illness prevention:
Use the template provided in the SU Heat Illness Prevention Guide- Appendix A.
The written plan shall minimally cover:
Procedures for providing water and access to shade
High heat procedures
Emergency response procedures
Acclimatization methods and procedures
Employee and supervisor training shall include these local procedures for heat illness prevention
The written plan shall be made available to employees at the worksite
Availability can be via smartphone

20. Supervisor Responsibilities-- Summary
Obtain heat illness prevention training
Develop and train staff on written local heat illness prevention procedures
On a daily basis, assess your staff’s heat stress potential
Plan and manage work activities accordingly to reduce the risk of heat stress
Provide access to water and shade
Ensure routine monitoring of staff during warmer weather
Be able to recognize warning signs of heat illness
Promptly respond to symptoms of heat illness!

21. For Additional Information
EH&S- Occupational Health and Safety Program
Find more information on heat illness prevention at:
For questions or more information, call