• Acclimatize: An employee who has been newly assigned to a high heat area shall be closely observed by a supervisor or designee for the first 14 days of the employee’s employment. • Drink Water: Remind employees to drink water and stay hydrated. You must provide accessible, cool drinking water. • Assess and Use Body Cooling Gear: Managers should evaluate personal cooling gear such as neck gaiters and skull caps for employees. Cooling gear is available for $5 to $10 each. Training in proper usage of cooling gear is relatively easy. Current available gear specifications indicate that the gear can cool the body up to 30 degrees, activates in less than 60 seconds with just water and stays cool for up to two hours. The cooling cloth technology is chemical-free, machine washable and reusable. Body cooling gear must not be loose, such that it could get stuck in moving machinery. • Pay Special Attention if You Have High Blood Pressure And/or Diabetes: Heat impacts people with diabetes and/or high blood pressure in a severe manner. Employees with those ailments should discuss with their MD regarding extra precautions to be taken in hot summer months and/or working in with hot equipment and machinery. • Get the OSHA App for Your Cell Phone: Employees can download the “OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool” app to their phones and get the local Heat Index, Hourly Heat Index, Symptoms of Heat Stroke, First Aid for Heat Stroke and other safety tips. To download the app, scan the QR code. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatapp.html • Use the Buddy System: Heat exhaustion can hinder an employee’s ability to rationally think and even create confusion. Each employee will be assigned a “buddy” to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of heat illness and report to the supervisor immediately. Also, ensure that emergency procedures are initiated when someone displays possible signs or symptoms of heat illness as listed in the paragraph on the next page titled “Response to Heat Illness.” Note: Employee Heat Illness Prevention Training material has also been provided to management for review and circulation to all employees. Document all employee training. Employee Training Employee training must include: 1. Environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness. 2. Different types of heat illness and the common signs and symptoms of heat illness. 3. Employer’s procedures for complying with OSHA HIP requirements. 4. Importance of immediately reporting to the employer, directly or through the employee’s supervisor symptoms of heat illness in themselves, or in coworkers. 5. Use of a buddy system for monitoring heat stress and preventing heat illness, including seeking timely medical attention. 6. Importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water. 7. Importance of acclimatization. 8. Access to a cool, shaded break room where employees can rest during their break or cooldown periods. 9. Use of the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool to understand and prevent heat illness. 10. Employer’s procedures for emergency responses to symptoms of possible heat illness and how medical services will be provided should they become necessary. 11. Procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider. 12. How to provide clear and precise directions to the work site. Be Prepared for Emergencies — Post Signs on Employee Notice Board Post signs for your employees on the notice board providing the following information: • Steps to follow if a work has signs or symptoms of heat‑related illness. • Who to call for medical help and how to give clear directions to the worksite if calling 911. • How to provide first aid until the ambulance arrives. How to Implement Appropriate Acclimatization • Employees should ease into work. Nearly 3 out of 4 fatalities from heat illness happen during the first week of work. • Gradually increase time working in hot conditions over 7 to 14 days. • A new employee’s schedule should be no more than 20% of the usual duration of work in the heat on Day 1 and no more than a 20% increase each day. • For workers with recent experience, their schedules should be no more than 50% of the usual duration of work in heat on Day 1, 60% on Day 2, 80% on Day 3, and 100% on Day 4. • Closely supervise new employees for the first 14 days or until fully acclimatized. • Non-physically fit workers require more time to fully acclimatize. • Acclimatization can be maintained for a few days of non‑heat exposure. • Taking breaks in air conditioning will not affect acclimatization. Rest and Cool Down • Permit rest and water breaks when a worker feels heat discomfort. • Modify work/rest periods to give the body a chance to get rid of excess heat. • Assign new and unacclimatized workers lighter work and longer, more frequent rest periods. • Shorten work periods and increase rest periods: ○ As temperature and humidity increases. ○ When there is no air movement. ○ If protective clothing or equipment is worn (i.e. paint suit). ○ For heavier work. NCDA.COM 23
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