heat illness

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Atlanta Federal Health and Safety Council

13 July, 2011

OSHA Atlanta East Area Office

OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers

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Heat Illness: Matter of Life or Death

• May cause heat cramps, heat rash, or more severe heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• Heat stroke can be deadly.• Early and quick action can

save lives.

WHY?Time of year

Prevented

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Employers Can Prevent Heat Illness

• Be aware that both Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke can be prevented

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

• Know when to take action• Include frequent water

breaks, ample time to rest and shade for workers

Heat Exhaustion

Heat Stroke

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Prevention Campaign = 3 Words*

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Heat Illness Prevention Advice

Employers need to be aware of the following risk factors for workers:

Construction and General Industry• High temperature and

humidity• Direct sun exposure (no

shade) • Limited air movement (no

breeze)• Strenuous work tasks

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Heat Illness Prevention Advice (cont.)

• Along with water, rest and shade, employers should make sure workers are acclimatized to heat environments

• Especially those new to working in hot environments

• This includes workers with a lack of recent exposure to hot working conditions (away for more than a week)

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Heat Illness Website Resources

Here is whereyou have access

to all ofOSHA’s

Heat Campaignmaterials

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Educational Resources Page

• Publications: Fact Sheets, Posters [English/Spanish]

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Community Posters

• Community posters are available in both English and Spanish

• Posters communicate the message: Water. Rest. Shade. The work can’t get done without them.

• OSHA adds “Let’s make heat safety part of the job”.

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Training Page

• OSHA’s Lesson Plan for Employers• Cal/OSHA:

– Heat Safety Training Kit for Employers– DVD: Water, Rest, Shade: The Work

Can’t Get Done Without Them• Access to other valuable training

materials from various sources

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OSHA’s Lesson Plan for Employers

• “Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers” is a short, participatory, easy to follow plan for employers to prevent heat illness and provide training to their workers.

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Employer Provided Training

Workers need to be trained to know what to do when a worker has signs of heat exhaustion:

• Call supervisor• Stay with worker until help arrives• Move worker to cooler/shaded area; • Fan and mist the worker with water • Provide cool drinking water

If the worker feels confused, vomits, or faints, this may indicate heat stroke Call 911 immediately!

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Media Resources Page

• Press Release Labor & Trade

• Labor Secretary’s Public Service Announcement

Both are available in English and en Español

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Partnering Resources

• OSHA is also partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on weather service alerts.

*

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The Risk of Heat Stress

Your risk of heat stress depends on many factors.

These include:• Your physical condition• The weather (temperature, humidity)• How much clothing you have on• How fast you must move or • How much weight you must lift• If you are near a fan or there is a breeze• If you are in the sun.

Heat emergencies

Warning signs of Heat Stroke vary but may include:• an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)• red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)• rapid, strong pulse• throbbing headache• dizziness, nausea• disorientation, confusion• unconsciousness

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a LIFE-THREATENING emergency. Call 911

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SKIN TURGOR (elasticity)

• A quick check of skin turgor by pinching the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone is a good way to check for dehydration at home.

• Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal.

• To rehydrate, drink more fluids -- particularly water.• If turgor is severe, indicating moderate or severe

dehydration, see your health care provider immediately.

First Responder Skin Test

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Compliance Assistance

OSHA offers consultation services to employers:

Contact OSHA 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). It’s free. For other compliance assistance

information and services… www.osha.gov

Occupational Safetyand Health AdministrationU. S. Department of Labor

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Heat Illness Prevention Challenge!

When it is hot and humid outside, employers should:

Encourage workers to drink water and rest in the shade

Provide contact information for workers in an emergency

EMPHASIZE: Water. Rest. Shade. Heat illness can be prevented!

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QUESTIONS

OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers

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