Watch for Heat Illness During the Dogs Days of Summer
The following incidents are from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) case files:
A worker at a Brooklyn recycling facility died due to heat illness.
- The employee had been working for several hours on a conveyor line, sorting and recycling construction and demolition waste.
- Workers were exposed to excessive ambient heat stemming from environmental sources and the heat generated by recycling machinery.
OSHA’s investigation found that the company failed to inform and train workers on the recognition, prevention and treatment of heat-related illnesses and did not provide temperature controls in the work area or implement a work/rest regimen.
A Connecticut worker was hospitalized for acute dehydration and kidney failure due to heat stress.
- The employee and fellow workers were performing asbestos abatement inside a sealed containment area in a gutted brick building.
- During this time, the outside heat index reached as high as 96.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The worker began sweating excessively, vomiting and cramping at the job site.
OSHA’s investigation determined that the asbestos abatement company lacked a program to inform and protect its employees against heat stress hazards. OSHA found that the heat hazard intensified because of inside work in a contained area with no fresh air intake; the employees wearing Tyvek suits and personal protective equipment and inadequate water and work breaks.
Heat Index and Risk Level
OSHA provides the following guidance regarding temperature and risk levels:
- When the temperature is less than 91 degrees Fahrenheit, caution is warranted. Employers should take basic heat safety measures, such as providing adequate amounts of drinking water and ensuring that medical services are available.
- When the temperature is 91 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, workers face a moderate risk of heatrelated illnesses. Employers should implement precautions and heighten employee awareness. Alert workers to the heat index anticipated for the day and identify each precaution in place at the work site to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Be sure that everyone knows the procedures for responding to possible heat-related illnesses, including the steps to follow if a person shows signs of heat-related illness, who to call for medical help and who will provide first aid until an ambulance arrives.
- When the temperature is 103 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, workers face a high risk of danger. Take added precautions if workers are wearing heavy or non-breathable clothing or impermeable chemical protective clothing. These circumstances put workers at even greater risk of heat-related illness. Adjust work activities and enforce strict work/rest schedules to control heat exposure and allow workers to recover.
- When the temperature is greater than 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the risk to workers is very high to extreme. Such temperatures should trigger even more aggressive protective measures on the part of employers.
PPE Increases the Risk
Workers are at an increased risk of heat stress from personal protective equipment (PPE), especially from wearing semi-permeable (penetrable) or impermeable clothing (such as Tyvek or rubber), when the outside temperature exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or while working at high energy levels. These types of clothing materials trap heat close to a worker’s body. Workers should be monitored by establishing a routine to periodically check heart rate, temperature and other physiological signs of overexposure. In addition:
- Reschedule activities for when the heat index is lower. Consider adjusting the work shift to allow for earlier start times, or evening and night shifts.
- Modify the site work/rest schedules to accommodate workers using heavy protective clothing.
- When possible, rotate workers to job tasks that do not require this type of protective clothing for part of the work shift.
- Encourage workers to remove protective equipment that is not needed while they are on rest breaks (e.g., if the rest area is free of hazards, remove hard hat, gloves, high visibility vest, respirator and protective suit).
Protect your employees from heat illness with our heat stress training materials. To learn more, visit: https://www.clement.com/safety-training/heat-stress.html.
