Practical Tips to Help You Keep Yourself, Your Co-workers and Your UC Campus Safe, Healthy and Secure

May 2012UC Monthly Safety Spotlight

Heat injury can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Take the time today to learn aboutheat illness. Your UC EH&S staff can direct you to online or campus-based resources.Work with your supervisor and co-workers to be sure your department has appropri-ate heat illness and injury prevention work practices in place. Summer is a time forenjoyment and renewal. Don’t let heat illness or injury spoil it for you.

For more information on how to stay healthy, safe and secure, contact your campusEnvironment, Health and Safety Office.

UC Safety Spotlight is published by UC Office of the President � © 2012 Regents of the University of California

A UC System-Wide Publication of the Environment, Health & Safety Directors Leadership Council

Don’t Let the

At Work

Spoil Your Summer

At Home❂ Be sure your department’s employee safety

program includes appropriate heat illness andinjury prevention measures.

❂ Communicate openly and often among employ-ees and with supervisors so you can quicklyrespond if problems arise.

❂ Complete all required safety training so youcan protect yourself and your co-workers.

❂ If you are a supervisor or Principal Investig-ator, be sure your department follows CalOSHAheat illness prevention requirements.

❂ Understand and practice your department’sheat emergency response procedures.

IF YOU WORK OUTDOORS IN HOT WEATHER:

❂ Take shade breaks throughout the day.

❂ Drink plenty of water during the day, even ifyou don’t feel thirsty.

❂ Schedule work for earlier in the day when highheat is expected.

❂ Report all symptoms of heat exhaustion, heatcramps or other heat-related illness to yoursupervisor immediately.

❂ Learn how to spot and respond to symptomsof heat-related illness in yourself and others.

❂ Monitor active children and teens carefullyand enforce their rest and hydration breaks.

❂ Plan outdoor activities for early in the day orin the evening during periods of hot weather.

❂ Use a wide-brimmed hat and use sun screento stay cool and avoid sunburn.

❂ Wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing tostay cool.

❂ Drink plenty of water throughout the day.Avoid sugary drinks and sodas, and drinkscontaining alcohol.

❂ Check on elderly neighbors and family mem-bers during periods of extreme heat and helpthem to air-conditioned shelters if needed.

❂ During heat waves, stay in air conditionedareas during the hottest part of the day.

❂ Never, never, never leave a child or anyoneelse in a parked vehicle during warm or hotweather. (This goes for pets, too!)