Date: April 13, 2018
Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers
to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness and Death
Fresno—Temperatures
at outdoor worksites across California continue to elevate as the weather warms
up. Cal/OSHA today participated in a news conference, reminding employers to
plan for and prevent heat illness in order to protect outdoor workers from
heat-related illness and death.
An essential component of
Cal/OSHA’s heat illness prevention model includes annual trainings statewide in
both English and Spanish.
Today, Nisei Farmers League and nine other agricultural employers co-sponsored
training sessions in Easton in both languages. This co-sponsored training has
been held every year since 2008 to highlight the need to protect outdoor
workers from heat illness and the requirements under California’s heat illness
prevention standard.
“It is never too
early for employers with outdoor workers to review their heat illness
prevention procedures and ensure their training is effective,” said Cal/OSHA
Chief Juliann Sum. “Cal/OSHA continues its outreach and training efforts, as
well as enforcement at outdoor worksites, to ensure compliance with the
standard.”
Heat
illness is a serious hazard for people who work outdoors. Cal/OSHA’s prevention
approach includes targeted enforcement inspections at outdoor worksites in
industries such as agriculture, landscaping and construction during the 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 upon request or when
temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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
heat-related violation that Cal/OSHA cites during enforcement inspections is
for failure to have an effective written heat illness prevention plan specific
to the worksite. Serious heat-related 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 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.
