osha’s campaign to prevent heat illness in outdoor workers

OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat OSHA’s Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor WorkersIllness in Outdoor Workers

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Heat Illness: Matter of Life or Death

• May cause heat cramps, heat rash, or more severe heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• Heat stroke can be deadly.• Early and quick action can

save lives.

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Employers Can Prevent Heat Illness

• Be aware that both Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke can be prevented

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

• Know when to take action• Include frequent water

breaks, ample time to rest and shade for workers

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

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Prevention Campaign = 3 Words

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Heat Illness Prevention Advice

Employers need to be aware of the following risk factors for workers:

• High temperature and humidity

• Direct sun exposure (no shade)

• Limited air movement (no breeze)

• Strenuous work tasks

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Heat Illness Prevention Advice (cont.)

• Along with water, rest and shade, employers should make sure workers are acclimatized to heat environments

• Especially those new to working in hot environments

• This includes workers with a lack of recent exposure to hot working conditions (away for more than a week)

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Heat Illness Website Resources

Here is whereyou have access

to all ofOSHA’s

Heat Campaignmaterials

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Educational Resources Page

• Publications: Fact Sheets, Posters [English/Spanish]

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Community Posters

• Community posters are available in both English and Spanish

• Posters communicate the message: Water. Rest. Shade. The work can’t get done without them.

• OSHA adds “Let’s make heat safety part of the job”.

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Training Page

• OSHA’s Lesson Plan for Employers• Cal/OSHA:

– Heat Safety Training Kit for Employers– DVD: Water, Rest, Shade: The Work

Can’t Get Done Without Them• Access to other valuable training

materials from various sources

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OSHA’s Lesson Plan for Employers

• “Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers” is a short, participatory, easy to follow plan for employers to prevent heat illness and provide training to their workers.

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Employer Provided Training

Workers need to be trained to know what to do when a worker has signs of heat exhaustion:

• Call supervisor• Stay with worker until help arrives• Move worker to cooler/shaded area; • Fan and mist the worker with water • Provide cool drinking water

If the worker feels confused, vomits, or faints, this may indicate heat stroke Call 911 immediately!

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Media Resources Page

• Press Release • Labor Secretary’s Public

Service Announcement

Both are available in English and en Español

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Partnering Resources

• OSHA is also partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on weather service alerts.

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Compliance Assistance

OSHA offers consultation services to employers:

Contact OSHA 1-800-321-OSHA (6742). It’s free. For other compliance assistance

information and services… www.osha.gov

Occupational Safetyand Health AdministrationU. S. Department of Labor

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Heat Illness Prevention Challenge!

When it is hot and humid outside, employers should:

Encourage workers to drink water and rest in the shade

Provide contact information for workers in an emergency