Heat Training Guide
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Before you begin
the meeting...
- Does this topic
relate to the work the crew is doing? If not, choose another topic.
- Did you read
this Training Guide and fill in the blanks where the
appears? (To find the information you need, look over the Safety Walkaround
Checklist for this topic.)
Begin: You
dont have to work in the desert to suffer from too much heat on
the job. Even in
a moderate climate, many operations on construction sites are hot and
uncomfortable.
But discomfort isnt
the only problem. If you dont take the proper precautions, heat
can give
you a rash, make you pass out, or even kill you. Sometimes you reach your
limit, and you
just have to know that its time to stop.
You or a crew member may want to add a personal story about heat.
|
Next, discuss
with the crew when and where heat could be a problem at this particular
job site:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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ASK
THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS:
|
After each question,
give the crew time to suggest possible answers. Use the information
following each question to add points that no one mentions.
1. What signs
and symptoms might you notice if your body is too hot?
- First, you may
notice that you are tired and less mentally alert. This
increases the danger of accidents.
- You may sweat.
The body produces sweat so the evaporation will cool you off. Sweating
isnt as effective if the air is very humid, because not as much
sweat evaporates.
- Heat rash
is possible. You get it when your sweat glands swell and get plugged
up.
- You can get sunburn
if youre in direct sunlight too long without using a sunscreen
product on your skin. Sunburn can be painful and may even lead to skin
cancer.
2. If you dont
pay attention to these early symptoms and get out of the heat, you
can get heat stress. What does heat stress do to your body?
-
The first symptom
is usually heat cramps. If you dont replace the fluids and
salts (called electrolytes) that you lose by sweating, you may
get muscle pain or muscle spasms. These are most common in the arms,
- Heat exhaustion
can follow. Your whole body (especially your circulatory system) is
extremely stressed. Some possible symptoms are:
Pale,
flushed face and neck
Clammy skin
Heavy sweating
Fatigue |
Shortness
of breath
Headache, dizziness, or fainting
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid heartbeat and breathing |
- Heat stroke
is the most serious stage of heat stress. Your body temperature shoots
up. 50% of people with heat stroke die. Symptoms are:
Dizziness and confusion
Red, hot, dry skin
Nausea and vomiting
Very little sweating |
Rapid pulse
High body temperature (around 105° F)
Convulsions
Fainting |
- Anyone with heat
stroke must be taken to a doctor or hospital immediately.
3. Whats
the best treatment for the different stages of heat stress?
- Heat cramps
Stop work, drink fluids, and rest in a cool area. Drinking
electrolyte
solutions may also help.
- Heat exhaustion
Give first aid by moving the person to a cool place to rest.
Remove as much clothing as possible. Give the person water. Drinking
electrolyte
solutions may also help. Dont allow the person to get chilled,
and treat for shock if
necessary. Get medical help.
- Heat stroke
Call 911 to get an ambulance immediately. Immerse the person
in cool
water or ice.
4. Some people
are more likely to get heat stress than others. Why?
- You have a higher
risk of heat stress if:
- You are not
physically fit.
- You are overweight.
- You have
a chronic illness like heart disease or diabetes.
- You drink
alcohol or take drugs (either illegal drugs or prescription
drugs).
- You are dehydratedfrom
diarrhea, a fever, or not drinking enough water.
- You wear
heavy or tight clothing.
- You wear
some kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) on the
job. Some
PPE (like a full body suit) is hot. Other PPE (like a respirator)
increases the stress
on your body in other ways, making it harder for the body to fight
the heat.
- You are not
used to working in heat. The more you work in heat, the more
your
body gets used to it. This is called becoming acclimatized
to heat.
5. How long does
it take to become acclimatized?
- It usually takes
4 to 7 days of regular exposure to heat. But everyone is different.
- You shouldnt
do strenuous work all day on a hot job until youve become acclimatized.
- When you are
acclimatized, your body temperature and heart rate will be lower. You
will sweat more, but your sweat will be less salty so you wont
lose as much salt.
- You lose acclimatization
in a few weeks if you stop working in the heat.
6. What precautions
do we need to take on the site to prevent heat stress?
- In addition to
providing this training, the company will: (Mention all that
apply)
- Assign
strenuous work during cooler parts of the day.
- Give new
hires who are not acclimatized lighter work during their
first week.
- Rotate
workers in strenuous, hot jobs so no one is exposed too long.
- Shield
or enclose sources of heat (like furnaces) to minimize
radiant heat.
- Provide water-cooled
garments or ice-packet vests where necessary.
- Keep first
aid supplies and equipment available.
- Workers
should:
- Drink
a lot of cool water (or an electrolyte solution). You may need
a quart an
hour or more, depending on conditions. Drink even if you dont
feel thirsty.
- Take frequent
breaks in an air-conditioned or shaded area.
|
Point out
where drinking water and break areas are located on this site:
_________________________________________________
|
- Wear appropriate
clothing when youre in the sun. The best clothing is a loose,
lightweight cotton shirt and pants in a light color. Wear a wide-brimmed
hat in the
sun. Wear a lightweight long-sleeve shirt and long pants
if its over 95° F.
- Use a sunscreen
product to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays in sunlight. It
should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. (Check
the label.)
- Take frequent
cool showers if possible.
- Stay physically
fit.
- Limit
your use of alcohol. Ask your doctor about prescription drugs
youre taking.
7. How can we
be sure no one on the site is getting affected by the heat too much?
- Use the buddy
system. Watch your coworker for signs of heat stress.
- Know what
to do if you or your coworker show any symptoms.
- Notify your
supervisor and stop work if you notice any major symptoms.
Explain:
The safety measures weve talked about are included in our companys
Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), as required by Cal/OSHA.
At this time, there are no specific Cal/OSHA regulations on exposure to
heat. I have a Checklist of recommended safety measures. If youd
like to know more, see me after the meeting.
(Only if applicable.)
We have some additional company rules about heat on the job.
|
Discuss
company rules:______________________________
_________________________________________________
|
Ask:
Do you have any
other concerns about heat on the job? Do you see any problems on our job?
(Let the steward answer first, if there is one.)
What about other jobs youve worked on? Have you had any experience
with heat that might help us work safer on this job?
GENERAL
SAFETY DISCUSSION
|
This is a time
to discuss all safety concerns, not just today's topic. Keep your notes
on this page before, during and after the safety meeting.
Are you aware
of any hazards from other crews? Point out any hazards other crews
are creating that this crew should know about. Tell the crew what you
intend to do about those hazards.
Do we have any
old business? Discuss past issues/problems. Report progress of
investigations and action taken.
Any new business?
Any accidents/near misses/complaints? Discuss accidents, near misses,
and complaints that have happened since the last safety meting. Also recognize
the safety contributions made by members of the crew.
Please remember,
we want to hear from you about any health and safety issues that come
up. If we don't know about problems, we can't take action to fix them.
To complete the
training session:
- Circulate Sign-Off
Form.
- Assign one
or more crew member(s) to help with next safety meeting.
- Refer action
items for follow-up. (Use the sample Hazard Report Form in the
Reference Section of this binder, or your companys own form.)
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:______________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:_________________ |
NAMES
OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING
|
Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by:
Labor Occupational Health Program, School of Public Health, 2515 Channing
Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author
and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent.
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