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Heat Illness prevention and compliance reminder

I highly recommend formal Heat Illness Prevention training, which includes a test, supporting employees and supervisors in understanding their responsibilities under the heat illness regulation. 

When performing a Heat Illness program audit my top five elements that I look for include:

1. Provide 1 quart of water per employee per hour.
2. Be sure that shade and water is as close as practicable. Ideally within 300 feet.
3. Make sure employees and supervisors understand symptoms, and that they have a right to take a break whenever they experience any symptoms.
4. Make sure employees and supervisors know what acclimatization is. If there’s a new employee, Cal/OSHA is likely looking for a buddy system for the first 14 days during acclimatization.
5. Make sure that you have your heat illness prevention program at the worksite. Sometimes this might mean having the heat illness prevention program in the vehicle or equipment that an employee is using to perform work at day as they may be working independently and not in a set location.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule Heat Illness Prevention training or a program audit please contact us.

Have a great and safe day.

Cal/OSHA Proposed Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Standard

California is known for its warm and sunny weather, which can pose a risk for heat illness. Heat illness does not only affect those employees working outdoors under the California sun, it can also affect those indoors, especially during heat waves or in buildings without proper ventilation or air conditioning.

Cal/OSHA has officially proposed an indoor heat illness prevention standard to protect workers from heat-related illnesses in indoor workplaces. This standard would apply to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82 degrees Fahrenheit when employees are present.

Employers would be required to implements measures to protect workers from heat illness indoors including:

• Providing access to drinking water, access to cool down areas, and preventative cool down rest periods.
• Implementing an indoor heat illness prevention program in addition to an outdoor heat illness prevention program (title 8: §3395)
• Monitoring weather conditions and adjusting work practices as needed.
• Implementing engineering or administrative controls to reduce heat exposure, such as providing air conditioning or ventilation systems.
• Training.

In addition, the standard could require employers to provide additional protections for employees working in high-heat areas or under high-heat conditions, including implementing a more comprehensive heat illness prevention plan, conducting pre-shift meetings and monitoring employees for signs of heat illness.

You may read the draft regulation here: https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Indoor-Heat-proptxt.pdf  The Public Hearing is May 18, 2023.

For more information and to review your current Heat Illness Prevention Program in accordance with title 8: §3395 contact CSTC at 661-377-8300.

Outdoor Workplace Challenges

If you are living in the warm climate of the San Joaquin/Central Valley of California, then heat illness is an environmental reality.  This week the temperatures are over 95 degrees which is the “high heat” threshold for several California regulatory requirements including a morning tailgate meeting to encourage workers to drink enough water(see below CSTC’s email tailgate).  Companies must provide 1 quart per person per hour throughout the day.  If you are working 10 hours this could be accomplished by having a 2.5 gallon insulated jug with procedures for replenishment.  Employers must also provide a 10 minute cool down recovery period for every 2 hours worked in temperatures over 95 degrees. 

For us at CSTC we utilize an email to communicate to our instructors/inspectors for the tailgate reminder.  For complete requirements see Cal/OSHA Title 8 3395.

Have a great and safe day!

95° + temperatures have hit in the Central Valley.  We are updating Heat Illness Prevention Programs to incorporate Covid-19 precautions. In this blog we are focusing on two specific areas: water and shade.

First, I’d like to address water as everyone needs to be consuming adequate fluids, especially when the weather is hot. It’s important to follow personal hygiene and sanitization practices for commonly touched surfaces.  Igloo jugs to fill single use cups will need to be monitored and sanitized appropriately.  Even the single use water bottles will need to be handled with proper personal hygiene caution. As always, make sure you are providing sufficient quantities of cooled fresh water at 1 quart per person per hour in the workplace.

Preventative recovery rest breaks is the next area to be addressed.  Shaded rest areas must be provided.  For every two hours worked employees must be provided with a preventative rest period of at least 10 minutes. Employers must take additional measures to be sure that employees can take a break in a shaded area while obeying social distancing of 6 feet.

Employees should be trained to keep 6 feet of social distance during breaks and transportation to prevent infection.

In California, Cal/OSHA will continue to enforce regulations associated with COVID-19 and hazards associated with the workplace including heat illness and other applicable hazards. Please review your Heat Illness Prevention programs with a review of your specific COVID-19 procedures. 

Please contact us if we can help you in adjusting your plans accordingly.

Living in Bakersfield, Heat Illness is a serious problem, with high temperatures 8+ months out of the year. In this video, Ben IV Laverty discusses Heat Illness very casually, with some stories, insights, and frequently asked questions from employers and employees.