Protecting Your Outdoor Workers from Heat Illnesses

This past weekend showed California’s first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures hitting the triple digits.  If you have employees who are working outside, it is important to remember how to protect them from heat illnesses.

California has seen some warmer temperatures thus far this summer, but nothing like last weekend.  With workers not being acclimated to such high temperatures yet, make sure they are being closely observed for any signs of heat illness.

CalChamber has also shared 5 steps for all industries to take to prevent heat illness.

1. Plan – Develop and implement a written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
2. Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
3. Water – Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitable cool, and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour and encourage workers to do so.
4. Rest – Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes when they feel the need to do so to protect themselves from overheating. Workers should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
5. Shade – Provide proper shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.  Workers have the right to request and be provided shade to cool off at any time.

In addition to these steps, employees with existing health problems or medical conditions that diminish tolerance to heat should be extra cautious.  Certain medications can also increase a workers’ risk for heat illness.
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To prevent heat illnesses, it is important that supervisors are trained on emergency procedures just in case an employee becomes ill.  This helps to ensure that sick employees receive the proper treatment immediately and that their symptoms do not develop into a serious illness or death.

For more information and resources, check out CalChamber’s full article