Heat illness is a serious issue for people working outside in hot weather. This is especially important for those working in the manufacturing and construction industries in Houston and other Texas cities.
Heat illness prevention training is a necessary tool to ensure the safety of your employees and workers. Having a heat illness prevention program can mean saving someone’s life and staying on top of critical deadlines. If you aren’t comfortable putting this program in place yourself, our safety management services can help you tackle this task.
What Is Heat Illness?
Heat illness can range from heatstroke, heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, or a combination of these symptoms. They can occur when a worker is engaging in physical activities in high temperatures and especially in high humidity. Other factors include decreased airflow, improper clothing, insufficient water intake, and much more.
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is more likely to occur in high humidity situations. Since sweat can’t evaporate and cool down the body as efficiently, your body’s sweat response halts and body temperature can rapidly rise above 106°F.
Heat exhaustion occurs when you are not consuming enough liquids while spending time in hot weather. It usually manifests in heavy sweating, rapid breathing, and a pounding yet weak pulse. If left untreated, it can lead to a heat stroke.
Common Symptoms of Heat Illness
Besides heat stroke and heat exhaustion, other common, less severe symptoms of heat illness include heat cramps and heat rash. A heat rash is a type of mild skin irritation that develops in reaction to heavy sweating. A heat cramp can happen if your body is lacking the body salts and minerals it needs due to excessive sweating. These muscle spasms are common during strenuous activities and exercise. Other serious symptoms to watch out for include dizziness, shallow breathing, slurred speech, chills, headaches, or dry skin.
OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Tips
OSHA’s guide for employers on heat safety training touches on several methods that can be put into action to ensure worker safety. Communicating with your team is necessary for job safety and satisfaction, so make sure everyone is engaged in the discussion.
5 Top Components of a Heat Illness Prevention Program
Creating an OSHA heat illness prevention program is an effective way to reduce the number of injuries at work caused by a heat-induced illness. Companies can mitigate these risks by creating a plan that teaches employees the procedures and protocols necessary for protecting their health.
A tip to remember, the components of a prevention plan often vary by industry. For example, an effective heat illness prevention program for construction sites will differ from one created for factory employees. While some aspects are geared for specific industries most heat illness prevention programs contain the following five components.
1. Adequate Water and Shade
Ensure that workers have plenty of access to fresh and cool drinking water throughout the day. In fact, workers should be drinking several ounces of water at 20-minute intervals on especially hot days. Employers should also make sure that workers have places to recover in the shade where they can take periodic breaks from the sun and heat.
2. Proper Training
One of the most important steps in heat illness prevention training is having your employees attend a proper heat injury training program. An effective heat illness prevention safety program will touch on the proper precautions to take, how to spot common symptoms of heat illness, and the importance of slow heat acclimatization and drinking enough water. Employers should also implement required “hot-weather clothing” made of loose, moisture-wicking material and sun-blocking hats.
3. Emergency Protocols
Are your workers prepared in case an emergency occurs? Agree upon an emergency action plan once someone suffering a heat illness has been identified. The crew leader should ensure that someone is helping their colleague to a shaded spot and given water (if conscious) while someone else calls 911. Help the person loosen their clothing and place ice or cool water on their clothing and face to help lower their body temperature.
Learn how to prepare your construction site for a medical emergency.
4. Safety Reminders
A crew leader should be vigilant and periodically remind their team to watch out for heat exhaustion and to check on each other. Having signs placed around and near the workers can also help remind them to drink water, take breaks, report symptoms, and what to do in case of an emergency. Workers with health conditions such as diabetes, heart issues, pregnancy, and more may place themselves at more risk in the heat, so they may need to take increased precautions.
5. Gather Input from Workers
Encourage your crew to speak up about their opinions and suggestions. You may be overlooking something that they find obvious. Reassure them that it is alright to ask for help and to report symptoms as they arise. Heat exposure training should be a continuous conversation in order to prevent as many heat injuries as possible. A proactive, educated team of workers is the most important part of OSHA heat stress prevention programs.
Why is a Heat Illness Prevention Plan Important?
Having a heat illness prevention plan in place is a vital part of your workplace safety strategy and it also comes with multiple benefits for your company and employees.
With heat safety training, employees have the knowledge necessary to protect their health when temperatures start rising.
Heat exhaustion safety training reduces the number of workplace injuries, allowing you to avoid potential fines and other penalties. An effective heat illness prevention plan can also help keep OSHA away.
A visit from OSHA often means shutting down production which negatively impacts your bottom line. It can also affect employee morale and decrease productivity. Employee productivity typically increases when your staff has the tools and resources necessary to keep them safe in hot weather.
Safety by Design Can Help You Form a Safe Work Environment
If you need help developing an OSHA-compliant heat illness prevention program, contact Safety by Design today! Our full-service, third-party safety consultants ensure your workers are participating in a safe work environment by keeping you up-to-date on all safety regulations and training programs. Our top priority at Safety by Design helping your employees stay safe by making sure your workplace risks are at a minimum.
