California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Presentation

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California Occupational Safety and Health
Standards Presentation

• Title 8 CCR Section 3395
• Heat Illness Prevention
• Charles W. Kellogg, MSc, CEI, CEC
• Risk Manager

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• INTRODUCTION
• Since 1936, according to the National Safety
  Council, 30,000 people have died from heat
  related illnesses.
• 4 workers have died from the heat this year in
  California Therefore, the new regulation
  8/23/05
• On average, 384 people die each year nationally
  from heat stroke.
• Heat related injuries seem to occur often with
  the elderly OR people who are not in good 
  physical condition OR or acclimatized to the
  heat.

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Cal-OSHA Title 8, Section 3395 Heat Illness
Prevention

• Scope and Application Section applies to the
  control of risk of occurrence of heat illness.
• Section applies to all outdoor places of
  employment at those times when environmental risk
  factors for heat illness are present.
  (Temperature, Humidity, Radiant heat, Workload
  severity, etc.)

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Division of Occupational Safety and Health Labor
Code Sections 6308 6317

• Regulation carries criminal penalty provisions
  for violation as well as the standard civil
  monetary penalties.
• Sections should be integrated into Employers
  Injury, Illness and Accident Prevention Program
  (IIPP)

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GENERATION OF BODY HEAT

• There are TWO main ways in which our bodies
  produce heat

Metabolic Heat - the body generates heat through
the digestion of food, work and exercise.
Environmental Heat - body absorbs heat from the
surrounding environment, whether it is the hot
sun or a hot room.
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CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE BODYS COOLING SYSTEM

• Acclimatization - the biological process through
  which our bodies adapt to the environment
  Usually peaks within 4-14 hours of work for at
  least 2 hours per day in the heat.
• Air Temperature - heat flows from warmer objects
  to cooler objects.
• Air Movement - moving air speeds the evaporation
  process.

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CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE COOLING SYSTEM

• Humidity - the amount of water vapor in the air
  affects the rate of evaporation.
• Clothing - the type of clothing affects the
  amount of heat our bodies absorb and retain.

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Terms Definitions (b)

• Heat Illness Means a serious medical condition
  resulting from the bodys inability to cope with
  a particular heat load, including heat cramps,
  heat exhaustion, heat syncope and heat stroke.
• Syncope Fainting, temporary loss of
  consciousness or posture or both

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Terms Definitions (b)

• Environmental Risk Factors Working conditions
  that create the possibility that heat illness
  could occur, including air temperature, relative
  humidity, radiant heat from the sun, conductive
  heat sources (ground, air movement), workload
  severity and duration, protective clothing and
  PPE worn by employees.

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Personal Risk Factors for Heat Illness

• Individuals age and state of health
• Degree of acclimatization
• Water, alcohol, caffeine consumption
• Use of prescription medications affect the bodys
  water retention or other physiological response
  to heat

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Definitions (b) continued

• Preventative recovery period
• A period of time to recover from the heat in
  order to prevent heat illness

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Definitions (b) continued

• Shade Blockage of direct sunlight canopies,
  umbrellas. Blockage is sufficient when objects
  do not cast a shadow in the area of blocked
  sunlight. Shade is not adequate when heat in the
  area of shade defeats the purpose of shade.
• For example, a car sitting in the sun does not
  provide acceptable shade to a person inside it,
  unless the car is running with air conditioning.

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Provisions of Water (c)

• Water shall be provided in sufficient quantity at
  the beginning of the work shift to provide one
  quart per employee per hour for drinking for the
  entire shift.
• Employers may begin the shift with smaller
  quantities of water if they have effective
  procedures for replenishment during the shift to
  allow employees to drink a quart or more per
  hour.
• Frequent drinking shall be encouraged.

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Example

• Crew of 5 workers 8 hour shift
• 5 quarts per hour x 8 hours
• 40 quarts or 10 gallons!

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Access to Shade (d)

• Employees suffering from heat illness or
  believing a preventative recovery period is
  needed, shall be provided access to an area that
  is either open to the air or provided with
  ventilation or cooling for a period of no less
  than five (5) minutes. Such access to shade
  shall be permitted at all times.

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Mandatory Training Topics (e)

• Environmental personal risk factors for heat
  illness
• Employers procedure for identifying, evaluating
  and controlling exposures to the environment and
  personal risk factors for heat illness
• The importance of frequent consumption of up to 4
  cups of water per hour under extreme conditions

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Mandatory Training Topics (e)

• The importance of acclimatization
• The different types of heat illnesses and common
  signs and symptoms
• The importance of immediately reporting symptoms
  of heat illness in either themselves or
  co-workers
• Employers procedures for responding to heat
  illness, including emergency medical services

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Mandatory Training Topics (e)

• Procedures for contacting EMS and for
  transporting employees to a point where they can
  be reached by EMS personnel
• How to provide clear and concise directions to
  the work site

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Mandatory Supervisor Training (2)

• All information contained in the training section
  (e)
• The procedures a supervisor is to follow to
  implement the regulation
• The procedures the supervisor is to follow when
  an employee exhibits symptoms consistent with
  possible heat illness, including emergency
  response procedures.

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HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Heat Rash - also known as Prickly Heat, occurs in
  hot, humid environments where sweat can't easily
  evaporate from the skin.  
• This condition produces a rash which in some
  cases causes severe pain. 
• The procedures to prevent or minimize this
  condition is to rest frequently  in cool places
  and bath regularly ensuring to thoroughly dry the
  skin.

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HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Fainting can occur when a worker is not
  acclimatized to a hot environment
• Treatment Keep victim on back, elevate feet
  slightly keep cool give fluids, if conscious
• Returning worker to hot environment should be
  avoided

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HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Heat Cramps - painful muscle spasms that result
  from the loss of salt and electrolytes due to
  excessive sweating. 
• The cramps will usually affect the stomach, the
  arms and legs.  Vomiting may occur.
• This condition can be treated by drinking fluids
  containing electrolytes such as calcium, sodium
  and potassium. 
• This condition usually precedes heat exhaustion. 

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HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Heat Exhaustion - is a state brought on by the
  loss of fluids lost during excessive sweating. 
• Individuals with heat exhaustion still sweat, but
  they experience extreme weakness and may even
  collapse. 
• They may experience nausea, headache or
  giddiness.  Their skin is clammy and moist, their
  complexion is usually pale and the body
  temperature is usually normal or slightly
  higher. 
• This condition is best treated by taking the
  patient to a cool place, applying cool
  compresses, elevating the feet and giving the
  individual plenty of fluids.

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HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Heat Stroke - is a severe medical emergency which
  can result in death! 
• Heat stroke results when the body's core
  temperature gets too high and the body is no
  longer able to cool itself. 
• An individual suffering from heat stroke will
  have hot and dry skin, their pulse will be high
  and their blood pressure will fall mental
  confusion, delirium, loss of consciousness,
  convulsions or coma.
• This condition must be treated by immediately by
  calling 911 or local EMS cooling the victim's
  body with water or wrapping them in cool, wet
  sheets.  Immediately seek medical attention.

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PREVENTING HEAT-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Acclimation - accustom yourself to the weather
  prior to long durations of physical activity.
• Maintain Body Fluids - Fluid intake must be
  maintained throughout the course of physical
  activity.
• Do not rely on thirst as an indicator of
  dehydration because your body loses water faster
  than you realize.
• Alcohol should be avoided because it is a
  diuretic, which increases dehydration and can
  interfere with heat loss.

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PREVENTING HEAT-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Proper Diet Eat light and stay away from heavy
  foods. They increase metabolic heat production
  and also increase water loss.
• Eat smaller, well-balanced meals more often.
• Rest Periods - Pace your work activities at a
  slower rate during high temperatures and take
  frequent rest periods in a shaded area and drink
  plenty of fluids.

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PREVENTING HEAT-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS

• Dress Light Lightweight, light-colored clothing
  reflects heat and sunlight and helps your body
  maintain normal temperatures.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes such as cotton which
  lets air move over your body.
• Wide brimmed hats should also be worn.

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HOW HOT IS IT?
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SUGGESTEDHEAT WORK PROCEDURES