OSHA UPDATES Keeping Employees Safe in the Heat
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s summer heats up and temperatures and humidity start to climb, you are required under OSHA’s general duty clause to advise your employees of heat hazards and train them on methods to avoid heat illness. (Note: Check your local and state regulations for additional requirements.) Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program. Here are some tips to keep employees safe and cool: • Provide workers with water, rest and shade. • Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimate or build a tolerance for working in the heat • Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention • Monitor workers for signs of illness (Source: Marilyn Dempsey, OSHA safety consultant)
68 • Northeast Dairy Foods Association, Inc.
What are the Signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke? When working in an environment where temperatures may soar, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. According to the CDC, heat-related illnesses are preventable if you are aware of the signs and know what to do if you or a co-worker experience any of them. Heat related illnesses happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat, this might not be enough. In these cases, a person’s body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs. Some factors that might increase the risk of developing a heat-related illness are high levels of humidity, obesity, fever, dehydration, prescription drug use, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn and alcohol use. Everyone is at risk for heat-related illness, but the most vulnerable groups
tend to be older adults, very young children, those with mental illness and those with chronic diseases. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106 F. or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided. What to Look for: • High body temperature (103 F. or higher) • Hot, red, dry or damp skin (no sweating) • Fast, strong pulse • Headache • Dizziness • Nausea • Confusion • Losing consciousness/passing out
