Act Promptly to Implement Safety Best Practices
As extreme temperatures become more prevalent throughout the U.S., everyone including the media, employers, supervisors, and facility managers are paying close attention to heat-related illness and its prevention.
The data shows that heat related illnesses, including heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, are on the increase. These can impact different systems of the body including cardiovascular systems, kidney function, and even emotional regulation. The onset of illness can be rapid—and deadly. In fact, the CDC reports that 618 people die from heat-related injuries each year.
Studies have found that men are harmed by heat more often than women, and alcohol use, sunburn, certain medications, and dehydration add to a person’s vulnerability. While some demographics are more susceptible—like older individuals, children, and people with chronic illnesses—it’s essential to note that even young, healthy adults are vulnerable to heat-related injury.
Federal law requires that employers protect workers from heat-related illness and sets out key guidelines for doing so. UG2 has combined those guidelines with an emerging understanding of best practices to develop a framework for prevention:
1. Ensure consistent access to water, rest, and shade. This includes activating cooling centers, and allowing newer or returning workers to gradually increase physical workloads and take frequent breaks as they build and gauge their ability to tolerate the heat.
2. Have a detailed plan in place for emergencies. Heat injury prevention plans should be detailed and frequently reassessed. Action items range from planning for outages/utilizing generators to knowing when to escalate a response and call 911.
3. Train every employee on prevention, identification, and response. Ongoing training and reminders are critical, which is why UG2 incorporates heat-related illness prevention in every aspect of our industry-leading training and communications planning.
4. Schedule activities carefully. Capitalize on cooler windows of time, such as before noon or in the evening, and ensure that every employee knows to pace themselves with regularly scheduled breaks.
5. Work in teams. Provide every employee with radios and the information necessary to respond immediately if a teammate shows symptoms of illness.
6. Recognize the signs. Heat-related illness can have a rapid onset, even without an extended period of exposure:
- Heat-related illness can begin with mild symptoms in the form of a sunburn, heat rash, or heat cramps including muscle pain and spasms.
- The progression to heat exhaustion can include symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
- As the body reaches extremely high temperatures, heat stroke symptoms can appear including odd thinking or behavior, slurred speech, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
7. Communicate key information. Communicate warnings in advance of expected heat waves. Post safety signs and reminders broadly and in multiple languages, such as those available from OSHA.
8. Don’t wait to take action. In an emergency, implement first aid procedures (cool down with water or ice), and call 911.
9. Advise employees to talk to their health providers. Certain medical conditions and prescription medications can put people at higher risk—or can influence the recommended types and amounts of fluid intake for an individual.
Like every aspect of safety planning and injury prevention, adopting a formal set of guidelines is essential. If you have questions about planning for safety in your facility, contact us for more information today.