Cal/OSHA Stresses Importance of Taking Precautions to Prevent Heat Illnesses.OAKLAND, Calif. -- With triple digit temperatures scorching scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. many regions of the state, Cal/OSHA urges employers to observe the precautions specified in the heat illness prevention regulation. For employees working outdoors, the hot sun with high temperatures can be life-threatening. "Just an increase of two degrees in normal body temperature can affect mental performance, and an increase of five degrees can result in serious illness or death," said Len Welsh, Chief of Cal/OSHA. "It is critically important for those who work in high heat, and particularly those who supervise them, to understand how rapidly the human body can be damaged if simple precautions like drinking lots of cool or cold water, resting in shaded or cool areas, and responding rapidly to warning signs of heat illness, are not taken." Under the heat illness prevention regulation, employers are required to take four basic steps to prevent heat illness at all outdoor worksites. These include developing and implementing written procedures on heat illness prevention, and providing heat illness training to all employees--especially those who are not proficient in the English language English language, member of the West Germanic group of the Germanic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Germanic languages). Spoken by about 470 million people throughout the world, English is the official language of about 45 nations. . In addition, employers must provide their employees readily accessible, clean and cool drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. and ample shade or cooling areas. The hotter the weather, the more employees should be encouraged to take periodic breaks in the shade and pace themselves. Workers should also be encouraged to drink four 8-ounce cups of cool fresh water per hour, and as much more than that as they want. Avoiding alcoholic beverages
de·hy·drate v. 1. To remove water from; make anhydrous. 2. the body for 24 hours Adv. 1. for 24 hours - without stopping; "she worked around the clock" around the clock, round the clock or more after being ingested in·gest tr.v. in·gest·ed, in·gest·ing, in·gests 1. To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption. See Synonyms at eat. 2. . Sugary sug·ar·y adj. sug·ar·i·er, sug·ar·i·est 1. Characterized by or containing sugar: sugary foods. 2. Tasting or looking like sugar. 3. drinks such as soda or sports drinks, caffeine from coffee, energy drinks or iced tea are also not recommended. Employers must recognize early warning signs of heat illness and train their supervisors and workers on symptom recognition as well. Some early symptoms and signs of heat illness to watch for are headaches, muscle cramps and fatigue. These symptoms should disappear rapidly if an employee rests and cools off. If they do not, it is time to summon emergency medical services An Emergency medical service (abbreviated to initialism "EMS" in many countries) is a service providing out-of-hospital acute care and transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient believes constitutes a medical emergency. . If an employee exhibits nausea or vomiting, excessive sweating or hot dry skin, mental confusion, seizures, fainting or loss of consciousness, call for emergency medical services immediately while you are getting him or her to the coolest area you can find. Some employees who have health problems or medical conditions See carpal tunnel syndrome, computer vision syndrome, dry eyes and deep vein thrombosis. can be especially vulnerable to heat. Diabetics need to know that they have this vulnerability, as do many people who are taking anti-inflammatory medications or medications for high blood pressure. These employees need to be extra vigilant for indications that they are reacting adversely to heat exposure. Employers with workers near sources of heat or inside buildings with limited cooling capabilities must ensure that their Injury and Illness Prevention Programs are effective, in writing, and deal squarely with the heat hazards in their workplaces. Cal/OSHA studies show effective reduction of heat illness depends on employers having well thought out written procedures, ready access to water and cooling areas, procedures to allow for acclimatization acclimatization Any of numerous gradual, long-term responses of an individual organism to changes in its environment. The responses are more or less habitual and reversible should conditions revert to an earlier state. of new employees or those who have not had recent exposure to hot working conditions, vigilant weather monitoring, preparation and training for emergency response, and detailed employee and supervisor training. Under Governor Schwarzenegger's leadership, California became the first state in the nation to develop a safety and health regulation addressing heat illness in 2005. Cal/OSHA issued permanent heat illness prevention regulations to protect outdoor workers in 2006. For more information on heat illness prevention and training materials visit the Cal/OSHA Web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov/heatillness. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may call the California Workers' Information Hotline at 1-866-924-9757. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion