Page 32 - OHS, March 2022

SUMMER HAZARDS
spurn earlier recognition of heat stress symptoms when they’re working together.
Taking Breaks
Along with co-workers recognizing heat-related symptoms, teammates are also an important factor in ensuring that everyone is taking adequate breaks to allow their core temperature to cool down. Supervisors share in this duty as well. Even when it may seem to be counterproductive to stop instead of finishing a job first, exceeding work/rest schedules by as few as three to five minutes can have serious consequences.
Discuss work and rest schedules as well as any areas that are designated to help cool down during breaks. This may mean air- conditioned rooms or trailers with beverage dispensers or it may be a tent or areas with fans and coolers of beverages. No matter how advanced or humble, make sure that everyone has access to the areas and knows where each one is located.
Breaks are also a good time for supervisors or medical staff members to assess overall health. This can be especially important for workers who are still acclimating, those with existing health conditions or those who are older.
Utilizing Resources
Because heat-related illnesses are a recognized workplace hazard, there are a lot of resources available to help facilities evaluate the
specifific factors that contribute to heat stress. Chances are good, though, that most employees aren’t going to want to dive into the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) or American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH) reports and recommendations to determine what they need to do.
Keeping training simple and focusing on things that are actionable provides a good foundation. Supplementing training with resources, such as posters and signs in break rooms or at jobsites helps to reinforce that learning. For employees who are able to utilize tablets or phones during their workday, NIOSH and OSHA have developed a free heat safety tool app that provides the user with information about the heat index for their area, risk levels and precautions to take. It also provides information on heat stress symptoms as well as first aid.
Preventing heat stress illnesses and deaths doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Having a plan that establishes procedures and training employees to recognize not only the symptoms of heat stress, but also the simple practices that can prevent them will reduce risk. It will also help them to recognize which conditions are in their control so that they can focus on those to help prevent symptoms from developing.
Karen D. Hamel CSP, CIT, WACH, is a regulatory expert, trainer and technical writer for HalenHardy.
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