South Carolina’s summer months are a hazardous time of the year for workers, and employers need to take precautions to reduce the dangers of extreme heat for their employees. The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified heat stress as a high hazard, and completes heat-related inspections in the state.
Training and acclimatization
Employers are responsible for employee's safety from heat, as well as for training them for heat-related hazards. Training needs to begin in early spring, well in advance of dangerous weather conditions.
South Carolina can experience extreme weather changes of 30 degrees Fahrenheit or more daily. In some cases, employees may not be used to 90-degree weather and may not have had time to become physically acclimated to the heat, placing them at high risk of heat-related illnesses during periods of high heat.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has heat-related guidance for time frames for employees who have exposure to high heat. At least five days of 1 to 2 hours of heat exposure a day are needed for heat acclimatization. Supervisors should remember that all employees will not have the same physical response to conditions — some have higher heat tolerance, and some have higher body mass or weight.
Training for employees should ensure that all staff members can recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses for themselves and others, as well as what to do to abate these hazards.
Signs of heat-related illness
Employees working outside in the heat who begin to experience a headache, dizziness, or fainting should immediately seek shade and an air-conditioned space. They should also remove their outer clothing while fanning and misting with water. If available, those helping employees should place ice bags on the employee along with drinking water, and call a supervisor. They should also call 911, if needed.
The most serious heat illness is heatstroke, sometimes called sunstroke, where the body’s temperature has reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone observing a worker appearing to be not alert or confused should call 911 immediately, as these symptoms may be signs of a heatstroke.
The most noticeable difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke is that the body stops sweating during heatstroke. Employees who stop sweating should seek immediate medical attention. When left untreated, heatstroke can cause permanent brain damage.
Sun exposure can be reduced by wearing long sleeve moisture-wicking shirts that can help reduce heat stress exposure. However, these moisture-wicking shirts are not rated as flame resistant or fire retardant, so they are not suitable for welders, firefighters or electricians. For those working around vehicular traffic, consider using high-visibility moisture-wicking shirts with reflective strips.
Protect workers by planning ahead
OSHA recommends that employees alternate work with rest and shade. Municipal workers often experience different work scenarios every day. Whether workers are digging a trench on the side of the roadway or working in a waste water treatment plant aeration basin, they must be aware of heat-related hazards.
Ideally, supervisors should provide a temporary shade tent covering the work area. Also, providing water for hydration and an air-conditioned cab of a work truck, if available, are also safety measures.
Supervisors and upper management should stress the importance of drinking fluids before work and after work has commenced. Drinking at least 10 ounces of water every 15 minutes is recommended. Employees should know that the color of their urine can determine the level of hydration. Dark urine indicates that a person is dehydrated, and clear urine shows proper hydration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service, launched a new Heat and Health Initiative to protect workers from heat exposure. The new initiative has three resources, which combined give proactive actions that people can take to protect themselves: stay cool, stay hydrated; know the symptoms.
Mobile apps are available that will indicate if the heat index is elevated and in the extreme-risk category. Workers should plan to complete the work during cooler times of the day, if job duties allow for this.
OSHA is currently developing a new heat stress standard but it has not been adopted as of this article’s publication. The new enforcement initiative, which relies on the agency’s General Duty Clause authority, prioritizes heat-related inspections on days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit and applies to both indoor and outdoor workplaces.
For heat-related questions, contact John Ciesielski, loss control consultant, at jciesielski@masc.sc or 803.354.4752.