Response to Heat Illness Management and all employees must understand the signs and symptoms of, and first aid and emergency responses to heat illness. OSHA provides this guidance for employers knowing that an MD is generally not available on site to diagnose, treat or respond to heat‑related illness. The following guidance is a quick tool from the OSHA‑NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app to use in the event of heat‑related illness. Guidance from an MD should be followed as required. The app also provides information on heat cramps and heat rashes. Heat Stroke Signs & Symptoms Response • Confusion, slurred speech • Loss of consciousness • Red, hot, dry skin or profuse sweating • Seizures • THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Call 911. • Stay with the worker until help arrives. • Move the worker to a shady, cool area. • Remove outer clothing. • Cool quickly with a cold water or ice bath if possible; wet the skin, place cold wet towels on the skin, or soak clothing in cool water. • Fan air around the worker. • Place cold wet towels or ice on the worker’s head, neck, armpits and groin. Heat Exhaustion Signs & Symptoms Response • Cool, moist skin and heavy sweating • Headache • Nausea or vomiting, dizziness, light‑headedness, weakness • Thirst • Irritability • Elevated body temperature • Decreased urine output • Take the worker to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment. • If medical care is unavailable, call 911. • Stay with the worker until help arrives. • Remove the worker from the hot area and give them liquids to drink. • Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks. • Cool the worker with cold compresses or have them wash their head, face and neck with cold water. • Encourage frequent sips of water or other cool beverages to drink. • Do not let the worker return to work that day. Is Your Shop Indoors or Outdoors? The HIP law applies to outdoor places of employment; OSHA’s interpretation of outdoor places may include your covered or enclosed shop areas. See the interpretation from OSHA below. What Is Meant by “Outdoor Places of Employment?” An outdoor place of employment is best thought of as one that is not an indoor workplace. A workplace with a roof and enclosed sides is generally considered an indoor workplace. For the purposes of this standard, the distinguishing quality of indoor workplaces is that they reduce the risk factors that commonly lead to heat illness. For information about environmental risk factors for heat illness, scan the QR code. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/heatIllnessQA.html For example, a building that provides sufficient ventilation and cooling, either by natural or mechanical means, and blocks exposure to direct sunlight is considered an indoor workplace. Sheds, packing sheds and partial or temporary structures such as tents, lean-tos and structures with one or more open sides can be either indoor or outdoor workplaces, depending on the circumstances. In many cases, these structures may be hotter than the environment outside because of heating by the sun and conditions inside like limited air circulation or lack of insulation. A structure in this category may be considered an outdoor workplace if it does not significantly reduce the net effect of the environmental risk factors that exist immediately outside of the structure. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this newsletter are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered as legal advice. Employers must consult their lawyer for legal matters and EPA/OSHA consultants for matters related to Environmental, Health & Safety. The article was authored by Sam Celly of Celly Services Inc. who has been helping automobile dealers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Texas and Virginia comply with EPA and OSHA regulations for over 35 years. Sam is a Certified Safety Professional (No. 16515) certified by the National Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Sam received his BE (1984) and MS (1986) in Chemical Engineering, followed by a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law (1997). Sam is a member of the American Chemical Society (No. 31176063), American Industrial Hygiene Association (No. 124715), and National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC). Sam also serves on the Board of Orange County American Industrial Hygiene Association and on the CA Industrial Hygiene Council (CIHC). Our newsletters can be accessed at www.epaoshablog.com. Your comments/questions are always welcome. Please send them to sam@cellyservices.com. 24 SAN DIEGO DEALER
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