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Weather Extremes and Heat Weather Extremes and Heat Illness TrainingIllness Training

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Employees must not work under dangerous Employees must not work under dangerous weather conditions. However, if proper weather conditions. However, if proper precautions are taken, and with your precautions are taken, and with your supervisor’s approval, you may work in supervisor’s approval, you may work in weather that is part of the study design or is weather that is part of the study design or is made safe with precautions and specialized made safe with precautions and specialized equipment. equipment.

The following slides list precautions, The following slides list precautions, equipment and the law related to heat equipment and the law related to heat illness and other weather dangers.illness and other weather dangers.

Weather Extremes

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WEATHERWEATHER PRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDEDPRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDED   

HeatHeatTake precautions to avoid heat stroke, Take precautions to avoid heat stroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion; drink heat cramps and heat exhaustion; drink ample fluids, wear loose clothing, wear ample fluids, wear loose clothing, wear a hat, limit time working while wearing a hat, limit time working while wearing gear that does not breathe or when gear that does not breathe or when working in areas with poor ventilation. working in areas with poor ventilation. Avoid working during the hottest part of Avoid working during the hottest part of the day. the day.

ColdCold Dress appropriately for cold or rainy Dress appropriately for cold or rainy weatherweather.. If working in a remote If working in a remote location, bring blankets or sleeping bag location, bring blankets or sleeping bag in case you are unable to return by in case you are unable to return by nightfall.nightfall.

Weather Extremes Chart from IIPP (Section 6.4)

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WEATHERWEATHER PRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDEDPRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDED

RainRain Advance preparation for stuck vehicles, Advance preparation for stuck vehicles, such as carrying a cell phone and using a such as carrying a cell phone and using a vehicle that is four-wheel drive or vehicle that is four-wheel drive or equipped with a winch is recommendedequipped with a winch is recommended. . Listen to the radio for flooding alerts.Listen to the radio for flooding alerts.

High windsHigh winds Employees should avoid driving in high Employees should avoid driving in high winds and protect eyes and lungs from winds and protect eyes and lungs from dustdust..

FogFog Avoid driving in dense fog. If zero Avoid driving in dense fog. If zero visibility, pull well off the road, park, and visibility, pull well off the road, park, and turn lights off. Give advance warning to turn lights off. Give advance warning to motorists when working along roadsides motorists when working along roadsides in foggy weather (discussed in 6.11 of in foggy weather (discussed in 6.11 of IILP)IILP)..

Weather Extremes Chart from IIPP

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WEATHERWEATHER PRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDEDPRECAUTION/EQUIPMENT NEEDED

DustDust To protect eyes and lungs, To protect eyes and lungs, employees are encouraged to wear employees are encouraged to wear eye protection such as goggles, eye protection such as goggles, and respiratory protection with a and respiratory protection with a filtering face piece or other filtering face piece or other appropriate or required respiratory appropriate or required respiratory protection when working in dusty protection when working in dusty conditionsconditions. (See RPP). (See RPP)

LightningLightning Employees should not work in Employees should not work in dangerous lightning conditionsdangerous lightning conditions..

Weather Extremes Chart from IIPP

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Weather Extremes: ClothingWeather Extremes: Clothing

• Disposable clothing, rubber boots, and gloves Disposable clothing, rubber boots, and gloves retain heat and moisture and can contribute to retain heat and moisture and can contribute to heat-related illnesses. Make sure that the DPR heat-related illnesses. Make sure that the DPR rules and the law is followed for heat illness rules and the law is followed for heat illness preventionprevention..

• Conversely, the same clothing can provide Conversely, the same clothing can provide protection from cold weather. protection from cold weather.

• When wearing disposable coveralls, the general When wearing disposable coveralls, the general rule of thumb is to have at least one layer of rule of thumb is to have at least one layer of clothing on to provide some protection if your clothing on to provide some protection if your coveralls tear or need to be changed in the field.coveralls tear or need to be changed in the field.

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Heat Illness Heat Illness EducationEducation

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Heat StrokeHeat Stroke-The most serious health problem for -The most serious health problem for workers in hot environments is caused by the failure workers in hot environments is caused by the failure of the body's ability to regulate its core temperature.of the body's ability to regulate its core temperature.

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion-Results from loss of fluid through -Results from loss of fluid through sweating when a worker has failed to drink enough sweating when a worker has failed to drink enough fluids , salt or both.fluids , salt or both.

Heat Rash- Heat Rash- or prickly heat may happen when sweat or prickly heat may happen when sweat is not easily removed from skin by evaporation.is not easily removed from skin by evaporation.

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps-- painful Spasms of muscles. painful Spasms of muscles.

Fainting or Heat syncopeFainting or Heat syncope-- may be caused by a may be caused by a worker who is not acclimated to a hot environment. worker who is not acclimated to a hot environment.

Heat Illness (HI) Types

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Warning signs of Heat ExhaustionWarning signs of Heat Exhaustion• Heavy sweatingHeavy sweating• PalenessPaleness• Muscle cramps, WeaknessMuscle cramps, Weakness• Dizziness and or HeadacheDizziness and or Headache• Nausea or vomitingNausea or vomiting• FaintingFaintingWhat to doWhat to do• Cool victim as for heat stroke, to avoid Cool victim as for heat stroke, to avoid

progression to heat stroke.progression to heat stroke.

Heat Exhaustion Signs and Action

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Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature can rise to down. Body temperature can rise to 106106°°F or higher, within 10-15 minutes. F or higher, within 10-15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.treatment is not given.

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Warning signs of heat stroke vary but Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include:may include:

• Extremely high body temp (above 103Extremely high body temp (above 103°F °F orally)orally)

• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)• Rapid, strong pulseRapid, strong pulse• Throbbing headacheThrobbing headache• DizzinessDizziness• NauseaNausea• ConfusionConfusion• UnconsciousnessUnconsciousness

Heat Stroke SignsHeat Stroke Signs

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What to doWhat to do If you see the signs of heat stroke, you are If you see the signs of heat stroke, you are

dealing with a life threatening emergency. Call dealing with a life threatening emergency. Call for assistance and begin to cool the victim:for assistance and begin to cool the victim:

• Get the person in the shadeGet the person in the shade• Cool the person rapidly using what ever methods Cool the person rapidly using what ever methods

you can (wrap wet towel, use sample ice etc.)you can (wrap wet towel, use sample ice etc.)• Monitor body temperatureMonitor body temperature• Drink fluid, non-alcohol, non-caffeineDrink fluid, non-alcohol, non-caffeine• Get medical help ASAP, call 911Get medical help ASAP, call 911

Heat Stroke ActionHeat Stroke Action

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Note: Not an official DPR recommended Note: Not an official DPR recommended way to cool off (probably works though).way to cool off (probably works though).

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Heat Illness and the Heat Illness and the LawLaw

According to the Heat Illness Prevention According to the Heat Illness Prevention Standard in Title 8, CCR Section 3395:Standard in Title 8, CCR Section 3395:

• Employers must provide HI training.Employers must provide HI training.• Provide enough fresh water, at least 1 quart Provide enough fresh water, at least 1 quart

per hour per employee and employers must per hour per employee and employers must encourage consumption of fluids.encourage consumption of fluids.

• Employers must provide access to shade for at Employers must provide access to shade for at least 5 minutes of rest if employee needs a least 5 minutes of rest if employee needs a recovery period.recovery period.

• Employer must develop and implement written Employer must develop and implement written procedures for HI prevention and training.procedures for HI prevention and training.

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ResponsibilityResponsibility• All staff are responsible for their own heat All staff are responsible for their own heat

stress safety, and to plan accordingly.stress safety, and to plan accordingly.

• All staff must be alert for coworkers who may All staff must be alert for coworkers who may be suffering from heat stress and to take be suffering from heat stress and to take preventive action.preventive action.

• DPR is responsible to train employees and DPR is responsible to train employees and implement a written program. During hot implement a written program. During hot weather DPR needs to provide water and weather DPR needs to provide water and shade. shade.

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Study TypesStudy Types

• Labor intensive studiesLabor intensive studies include include activities such as digging, brisk walking, activities such as digging, brisk walking, heavy lifting or require exertion.heavy lifting or require exertion.

• Non-labor intensive studiesNon-labor intensive studies include include activities like well sampling, and some air activities like well sampling, and some air and surface water sampling that and surface water sampling that generally allows a person to work only a generally allows a person to work only a short period away from an air conditioned short period away from an air conditioned vehicle.vehicle.

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WaterWater for labor intensive for labor intensive studies in hot weatherstudies in hot weather• Bring large water container like the Bring large water container like the

Igloos, electrolyte mix is optional.Igloos, electrolyte mix is optional.• Need to have 1 quart per Need to have 1 quart per

hour/employee. Bring at least 2 quarts hour/employee. Bring at least 2 quarts per employee at start of shift.per employee at start of shift.

• When drinking water levels in container When drinking water levels in container drop below 50%, the water should be drop below 50%, the water should be replenished. Water level should not replenished. Water level should not fall below the amount needed for the fall below the amount needed for the rest of the workday.rest of the workday.

• Disposable/single use cups are best Disposable/single use cups are best when many workers are involved. when many workers are involved.

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WaterWater for labor intensive for labor intensive studies in hot weatherstudies in hot weather

• Water containers should be as close Water containers should be as close as possible to workers. as possible to workers.

• Employees should report lack of Employees should report lack of water or dirty water.water or dirty water.

• Sups/project leaders are to Sups/project leaders are to encourage fluid consumption and to encourage fluid consumption and to conduct a tailgate meeting to remind conduct a tailgate meeting to remind workers of the importance of workers of the importance of drinking fluids.drinking fluids.

• Schedule summer field activities Schedule summer field activities early to avoid the hottest part of the early to avoid the hottest part of the dayday

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What is Shade?What is Shade?

• According to the standard it is the According to the standard it is the blockage of sunlight! blockage of sunlight!

• Shade is sufficient when objects do Shade is sufficient when objects do not cast a shadow in the shaded not cast a shadow in the shaded area.area.

• And of course it should be cooler And of course it should be cooler than in the sun or it is not effective. than in the sun or it is not effective. Sometimes reflective heat (from cars Sometimes reflective heat (from cars etc.) can make the shade just as hot. etc.) can make the shade just as hot.

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ShadeShade for labor intensive for labor intensive studies in hot weatherstudies in hot weather• The supervisor or Project Lead will set up an The supervisor or Project Lead will set up an

adequate number of umbrellas, canopies or adequate number of umbrellas, canopies or other portable shade devices if it is hot and other portable shade devices if it is hot and there is no office building nearby.there is no office building nearby.

• Sup/lead person needs to ensure that Sup/lead person needs to ensure that employees have access to a recovery period employees have access to a recovery period to prevent HI. to prevent HI.

• Sup/lead should conduct a tailgate meeting to Sup/lead should conduct a tailgate meeting to discuss importance of breaks, shade and other discuss importance of breaks, shade and other cooling measures.cooling measures.

• Employees should take responsibility to wear Employees should take responsibility to wear cooling vests, hats and other cooling clothing.cooling vests, hats and other cooling clothing.

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WaterWater and and ShadeShade for for nonnon--labor- intensive studies in hot labor- intensive studies in hot weatherweather• Employees should bring their own water or Employees should bring their own water or

drinks.drinks.• Employees should take breaks or road stops Employees should take breaks or road stops

as necessary.as necessary.• Employees should watch for danger signs in Employees should watch for danger signs in

themselves and others, and take HI themselves and others, and take HI prevention action if necessary.prevention action if necessary.

• Choose to work in shade if possible, sit in air Choose to work in shade if possible, sit in air conditioned vehicle, bring cooling vests, hats conditioned vehicle, bring cooling vests, hats etc. etc.

• Schedule sampling early in the day to avoid Schedule sampling early in the day to avoid the hottest part of the day.the hottest part of the day.

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A few more prevention A few more prevention measuresmeasures

• Pace yourself -before you get Pace yourself -before you get uncomfortable from the heat.uncomfortable from the heat.

• Acclimate yourself by working less Acclimate yourself by working less hours in the heat the first few days of hours in the heat the first few days of an outdoor study.an outdoor study.

• Wear light-weight, airy clothing that Wear light-weight, airy clothing that breathes well. breathes well.

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TrainingTraining• Training will be conducted yearly in April Training will be conducted yearly in April

or early May, or for new employees that or early May, or for new employees that begin work in April through September.begin work in April through September.

• Tailgate training will be conducted prior to Tailgate training will be conducted prior to the start of labor intensive work in hot the start of labor intensive work in hot conditions, and then daily as necessary.conditions, and then daily as necessary.

• Supervisors will make sure that the Supervisors will make sure that the training is conducted.training is conducted.

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Written ProceduresWritten Procedures

• Written procedures will be updated Written procedures will be updated as necessary by any change in the as necessary by any change in the law or new information is learned. law or new information is learned.

• All field employees will read the All field employees will read the written procedure and sign that he or written procedure and sign that he or she understands it, yearly. she understands it, yearly.

2525Also, sunscreen is very important!