News
Release No.: 2017-29 Date:
April 27, 2017
Cal/OSHA
Urges Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness
Fresno—With California’s heat season quickly
approaching, Cal/OSHA today hosted a news conference to remind employers that
prevention is the best defense for outdoor workers against heat-related illness
and death.
A key component of Cal/OSHA’s prevention
model includes annual trainings statewide in both English
and Spanish. Nisei Farmers League and 11 other
agricultural employers co-sponsored training sessions in each language today in
Easton. The training highlights the need to protect outdoor workers from heat
illness and the requirements under California’s heat illness standard.
“Cal/OSHA continues to enforce
the nation’s most comprehensive heat illness prevention regulation, and we will
continue our outreach, consultation and training for workers and employers to
ensure that workers are protected from the heat,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
The
risk of heat illness is generally highest for people who work outdoors.
Therefore, Cal/OSHA’s prevention approach includes targeted enforcement
inspections at outdoor worksites in industries such as agriculture, landscaping
and construction during heat season. These inspections ensure compliance with
the heat
illness prevention standard and the injury
and illness prevention standard, which require employers to take the
following basic precautions:
1.
Train
all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
2.
Provide
enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour,
or four 8-ounce glasses of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
3.
Provide
access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool‐down
rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. They should not wait until they feel
sick to cool down. Shade structures must be in place when temperatures
exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or upon request.
4.
Closely
observe all employees during a heat wave and any employee newly assigned to a
high heat area. Lighter work, frequent breaks or shorter hours will help
employees who have not been working in high temperatures adapt to the new
conditions.
5.
Develop
and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA heat illness
prevention standard, including plans on how to handle medical emergencies and
steps to take if someone shows signs or symptoms of heat illness.
The
most frequent violation that Cal/OSHA cites during targeted heat inspections is
for failure to have a proper written heat illness prevention plan specific to
the worksite. Serious violations are often related to inadequate access
to water and shade, and to a lack of supervisor and employee training.
To
remain in compliance with the standard, Cal/OSHA encourages employers and
worker supervisors to learn more about the standard, which was amended in 2015.
Please refer to the Cal/OSHA guidance on the new requirements and the
Heat Illness Prevention Enforcement Q&A for more
information on the updates.
Additional information about heat illness
prevention, including details on upcoming training sessions throughout the
state are posted on Cal/OSHA’s Heat
Illness Prevention page. Cal/OSHA also has extensive multilingual
materials for employers, workers and trainers on its Water. Rest.
Shade. public awareness campaign website.
Questions related to heat illness prevention
should be directed to Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch, which
provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations
to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800)
963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.
Employees with work-related questions or
complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR
(844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757
provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of
work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA
district offices.