Page 12 - OHS, February/March 2025

C O N S T R U C T I O N S A F E T Y
fl uids with electrolytes for worker exposed to two or more hours of
work in excessive heat.
■ Rest — As the temperatures rise, so should the number of
breaks employees take. Rest breaks should be at least fi ve minutes,
increasing in duration as heat exposure increases.
■ Shade — Breaks should be in cool or shaded areas away
from radiant heat of machines, equipment, or work processes so
workers can recover appropriately.
6. Response plan for heat-related emergencies. Having a plan
in place for responding to heat-related emergencies can be the dif-
ference between a rapid recovery or a life-threatening event. Th e
emergency plan should identify contact numbers for emergency
response teams and the location of emergency equipment and fi rst
aid supplies.
7. Train supervisors and workers. Supervisors must under-
stand how to monitor heat and signs of heat-related illness and
should eff ectively communicate dire circumstances and protective
measures to workers. Workers must be given information and skills
to recognize and quickly respond to heat-related emergencies.
Training should include:
■ Identifying dangerous heat and humidity levels;
■ Recognizing signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses;
■ Responding to heat-related incidents (fi rst aid, contacting
help, etc.);
■ Reporting heat-related incidents and near misses; and
■ Periodic drills and training refreshers.
Safety tips or regulatory requirements?
You may have noticed the tips above resemble regulations — and
you’d be correct! Although there’s not a heat stress standard, there
is a current National Emphasis Program (NEP), and OSHA has
a proposed rule in the works. Th ese safety tips are designed not
just to keep your construction worker safe this summer but should
also help prepare you for OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Ill-
ness Prevention rule. Th e proposed rule was currently in the public
comment period, which ended Jan. 14. Now OSHA will review
all comments received and conduct a comment analysis. Th en the
agency will decide whether and how to proceed with the rulemak-
ing process or issue a new or modifi ed proposal.
Cindy Pauley is an Editor for J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. on
the Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Publishing Team. She
utilizes 14 years of safety program development and management
experience in oil and gas, chemical, manufacturing, construction,
and agricultural industries to develop a wide variety of easily under-
standable content and to provide regulatory insight for J.J. Keller &
Associates’ customers and partners. Cindy also shares her 911 emer-
gency dispatch experience with the American Red Cross Disaster
Action Team and her local Search and Rescue group.
VULCAN
CLUTCH®
1,700 LUMENS | ARTICULATING
& ROTATING HEAD | VERSATILE
CLAMPING HANDLE
STREAMLIGHT.COM/VULCANCLUTCH
©2025 STREAMLIGHT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
10 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2025 www.ohsonline.com