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Heat Illness Prevention Training

Stay OSHA Compliant with our
Heat Illness Prevention Training

In the U.S., heat exposure caused 43 work-related deaths in 2019, a 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report said. That’s bad. As with so many workplace deaths, employers can prevent these.

 

OSHA took notice of these figures in 2021. Unlike its California equal, OSHA has not yet written specific rules for heat-related illness (HRI). A September 2021 press release from the labor department names efforts to fix this.

 

Still companies need not wait for these laws. In fact, companies in 3 states cannot. California, Washington, and Minnesota have already issued laws to guard workers from heat stroke and the like.

 

What Is Heat Illness?

Heat illness (or heat-related illness) happens when a person’s body cannot cope with excess heat. The human body works within a few degrees of 98.6 F. The body controls this heat itself. Still, excess heat can stress the body. When it can’t cool down fast enough, or keep its “heat balance”, it causes mild to severe symptoms.

Heat Illness Products and Prices:

DIY Heat Illness Prevention Kit

Duration: 45 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Languages: English and Spanish

Digital: $550.00

Digital and Hard Copy: $675.00

Learn More and Buy Now

Description: DIY TRAINING KIT: COURSE A – This do-it-yourself training kit provides you with all the materials needed to conduct in-house, classroom-style heat illness prevention training. Materials include: Facilitator guides, student guides, wallet cards, course completion certificates, and an interactive presentation

Injury and Illness Prevention Plan Manual

Digital Delivery: $600.00

Digital and Hard Copy: $725.00

3-Year Maintenance: $590.00

Call us today at 866-982-5973

Description: MANUAL – The Injury and Illness Prevention Plan is a customized manual written to federal OSHA regulations. Pick from over 120 elective policies, such as heat illness prevention, to build a complete safety manual. Opt into manual maintenance to ensure your manual remains up-to-date when regulations change.

Heat Illness Prevention

Chapter Add-On

Languages: English and Spanish

Digital and Hard Copy: $135.00

Call us today at 866-982-5973

Description: CHAPTER ADD ON – Add the heat illness prevention chapter to an existing Safety Services Company Injury and Illness Prevention Plan manual, if this chapter was not selected at the time of purchase.

Work Environments Most Susceptible to Heat Illnesses

Any employee that conducts outdoor work in hot climates is at risk. However, there are some occupations that the BLS identified as more at risk based on 2015 nonfatal injury data. In order, these are: 

Delivery driver packing boxes into the back of his vehicle in the outdoor heat.
1. Transportation and Material Moving
Sparks fly as a glove-clad worker uses an orbital sander to grind a piece of metal in a production setting.
2. Production
Fire-rescue crew chief holds hose against a blurred fiery backdrop in a protective service.
3. Protective Services
Solar technician installs solar panel outdoors in the installation services.
4. Maintenance and Installation
Worker with protective gear looking up at construction site.
5. Construction
Building groundskeeper runs chainsaw along a bush hedge, sending leaf particles flying.
6. Building and Grounds Maintenance

Types of Heat Illness and Signs

Cal/OSHA writes about at least 5 types of heat-related illness

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the worst. It is often fatal if not treated quickly.

Heat Stroke Symptoms
  • Inability to sweat
  • Confusion, delirium, convulsions, dizziness
  • Hot, dry, or discolored skin (e.g., red, blueish, mottled)
  • Weak, rapid pulse
  • Throbbing headache, shallow breathing, seizures and/or fits
  • Unconsciousness
  • High body temperature (102° – 104° F or higher within 10-15 minutes)
Heat Exhaustion

The body loses water and salt through sweat. Too much and it becomes “heat exhaustion”.

Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
  • Heavy sweating
  • Extreme weakness or fatigue
  • Painful cramps
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Slightly above normal body temperature
  • Fainting
  • Fast/weak pulse
  • Fast, shallow breath
  • Clammy, pale, cool, and/or moist skin

Heat Cramps

When the body loses salts and minerals from excess sweating, it can cause painful cramps. The cramps may not start instantly. They may occur after work or at night.

Heat Cramp Symptoms
  • Painful muscle spasms in stomach, arms, legs, or other body parts

Heat Syncope

Sudden shifts from sitting or lying to standing in the heat can lead to dizziness or fainting. When dehydrated or not used to the heat, people are more prone to fainting. That’s heat syncope.

Heat Syncope Symptoms
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Vertigo (light-headedness)
  • Unconsciousness

Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)

Excessive sweating from heat can cause clogged pores. That causes skin irritation—or heat rash.

Heat Rash Symptoms
  • Mild to severe blisters or red bumps
  • Itchiness or “prickling” at the affected area(s)
  • In extreme, rare cases, skin lesions that look like goose bumps

Prevention Measures

The bare minimum to protect workers from heat includes:
  • Providing water, rest, and shade
  • Allowing frequent breaks while workers adjust to the heat
  • Planning and training for emergencies
  • Monitoring workers for signs of heat illness

Better still companies should develop a complete heat illness prevention program. This program should include policy, training, and training reinforcement.

Contact Safety Services Company to consult with a professional and build out your compliant heat illness prevention program.

 

Get Online Heat Illness Training Online

Heat illness training provides a great introduction or deep dive into the topic of heat illness. This is perfect to refresh, supplement, or reinforce internal policy or training. In addition, our online training platform, SafetyConnect is a feature-rich content and learning management system to support all of your safety needs: from storage of important heat illness safety and training records to conducting remote demonstrations of Heat illness equipment specific to your workplace.

Do-it-yourself Heat Illness Training

If you have a competent and qualified heat illness trainer of your own, Safety Services Company offers heat illness training kits. These kits include the following:

  • An interactive digital presentation
  • A facilitator guide
  • A student guide
  • Knowledge assessments
  • Certificates of completion
  • An attendance log

Heat Illness Policy for Safety Manual

A complete heat illness policy should be specific to your business and work sites. Safety Services Company offers manuals customized for your business.

 

Heat Illness Prequalification Services

Working with ISNetworld®, Avetta®, Veriforce®, or any of 30+ prequalification platforms to land a contract with a safety-minded organization? Safety Services Company offers safety prequalification services to help companies meet prequalification platform requirements for heat illness and other such safety topics. These services are not limited to but include:

  • A consistently maintained health, safety, and environmental manual complete with a heat illness policy
  • A dedicated safety and compliance manager to support your business, review your prequalification needs quarterly, and maintain your prequalification accounts
  • OSHA 300 log maintenance to meet annual reporting requirements
  • Management of insurance documentation

Heat Illness Toolbox Talks / Heat Illness Safety Meetings

To reinforce a heat illness training, companies must regularly talk about heat illness topics. Weekly safety meetings and toolbox talks allow this. Safety Services Company offers industry-guided heat illness safety meetings sent in weekly or biweekly installments. Choose from over 1,000 topics, including heat illness.

Take caution with hot weather, high humidity and lack of air movement

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Heat Illness Regulations


General Duty Clause

OSHA does not maintain a complete Heat Illness regulation, but employers must protect workers from “recognized hazards”. Heat-related illnesses are recognized hazards. OSHA may use the General Duty Clause to cite companies who fail to protect workers from heat exposure.


8 CCR 3395 – Heat Illness Prevention In Outdoor Places of Employment

Also known as the Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez heat illness standard, this California regulation covers general industry, agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil, gas, and transport. Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez was a 17-year-old laborer who died after working 9 hours in the heat without access to water or shade. This event spurred the creation of today’s standard. It requires employers to provide water, shade, training, and planning in at or greater than 80°F weather.

5205.0105—Indoor Ventilation and Temperature in Places of Employment

This Minnesota law requires indoor temperatures be kept at reasonable levels and that outdoor air circulates indoors. It also covers protection from colder temperatures.

WAC 296-62-095

This standard states that employers in Washington must address outdoor heat in their written accident prevention programs. They should also encourage employees to consume water to stay hydrated.

If you have heatstroke, you may or may not sweat and your:

Body temperature goes above 104° F (40° C)

By ensuring we stay in compliance requirements through professional audits and maintenance of our accounts. Safety Services enables our safety staff more time in the field concentrating on the hands-on day-to-day managing safety of our employees with ease in mind.

David H. – Ohio