Heat Waves Increase Chances Of Occupational Heat Exposure BY CHASE KAMMERER
Heat-related illnesses range from rashes and fatigue to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Your workers may expe- rience muscle spasms, heat cramps, or confusion, so train- ing them on prevention and monitoring signs of heat-relat- ed illness is essential. On April 13, 2022, OSHA unveiled a National Empha- sis Program (NEP) of outreach, inspection, and enforce- ment for indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards. The NEP expands on the agency’s ongoing heat-related illness prevention initiative. It is intended to encourage early in- terventions by employers to prevent illnesses and deaths among workers during high heat conditions. An OSHA fact sheet on protecting workers from the ef- fects of heat has excellent information on measures you can take to prevent worker illnesses and death caused by heat stress. One of the best places to start is by creat- ing or reviewing your heat illness prevention plan. For a successful strategy, it is essential to consider the following elements: • Who will take on daily oversight?
Dangerously hot conditions threaten residents in cities across the United States. Summer is beginning with a heat wave. The temperature outlook for July offers no hope for
the end of above-average heat. That makes occupational heat exposure a good topic for this month’s Tech Box. Hot weather puts many workers at increased risk of heat-related ill- nesses and injuries. Under Occu- pational Health and Safety Admin- istration (OSHA) law, employers are
Chase Kammerer
responsible for providing workplaces free of safety haz- ards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat.
• How will you ensure first aid is adequate? • How will team members and managers be trained? • What will you do to reduce heat stress? • How will heat stress be measured? • How will you determine heat stress haz- ards? Training is also a meaningful way to pro- tect team members from heat-related illness- es. Here are a few things to include when creating a training program: • Provide information on the different types of heat-related illnesses, including how to recognize common signs and symptoms. • Provide procedures for contacting emer- gency medical services. • Include work practices to help team mem- bers develop acclimatization to higher than average temperatures. • Highlight job-related and personal risk factors for heat-related illness. • Have fluid replacement guidelines. An excellent resource for heat-related monitoring is a Heat Safety Tool smartphone app for outdoor workers developed by OSHA and the National Institute of Occupa- tional Safety and Health (NIOSH). Using the app, employers can plan outdoor work ac- tivities based on the temperature and heat index during different times of the day. Physiologic monitoring measures a work- er’s ability to tolerate heat. Some signs of heat distress are:
• Increased heart rate • Sweating profusely • Increasing body temperatures
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July 4, 2022
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