Heat Related Illness Addendum
Safety Meeting 05282024
Agenda: Preventing Heat Related Illnesses;
Review of last meeting approved: Yes
Corrections:-- Last meeting minutes stated the next meeting would be 05/27/2024 but obviously its on 05/28/2024
Unfinished business from last meeting: --
Incidents/Safety:--
Safety News: - We have an HRI addendum to our AIPP as directed by LNI. It is no doubt repetitive, but they said if we take any info out, it might not meet their standards for our AIPP, so I just added the electrolytes bit and fixed the most egregious errors. Sorry, this is long and filled in repetitive redundancies. IMHO, LNI needs a proof reader as well as a nurse on staff.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Outdoor Heat Safety Plan
Purpose:
To prevent heat-related illnesses and injuries for outdoor work.
HeatGuy, Llc. takes the danger of
heat seriously. We have implemented this plan to protect our employees from
heat-related illnesses and injuries. Everyone onsite has a shared
responsibility to keep people safe and healthy. This includes watching out for
yourself and others because heat-related illness can happen quickly and become
a life-threatening condition if unnoticed or ignored. Speak up if you notice
anything that could be unsafe or result in someone getting hurt or sick.
Covered
Workers
This plan covers anyone working
outdoors more than 15 minutes in any 60-minute period when temperatures are:
·
As low as 52°F and up if you are
wearing non-breathable clothing or clothing that provides a vapor barrier like
rain gear or chemical-resistant suits.
·
At or higher than 80°F when you wear
any other type of clothing.
Some people are more susceptible to heat sickness than
others including anyone who:
- Comes to work
dehydrated,
- Becomes dehydrated during work,
- Comes to work hung-over
- Does not replace electrolytes
- Is taking
medication(s) like anti-histamines, medications for high blood pressure,
antidepressants that prevent sweating (some medications deplete salt
and/or potassium and other minerals/nutrients; ask a naturopathic
physician if you are unsure)
- Has certain
preexisting medical conditions like high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes,
auto-immune diseases such as MS, are pregnant or nursing, have ever had a
seizure, or are overweight or obese, etc.
- Isn’t
acclimatized or used to the heat
- Is experiencing
a heat wave which can make everyone more susceptible to heat-related
illness, even young and healthy workers.
Our plan covers you if you do any of the following jobs or tasks at our worksites:
- Rough-in
- Trim
- Maintenance/Service/Repair
- Metal fabrication
1.
Shade
or Alternatives
The purpose of shade/air-conditioning is to cool your body down. Shade helps prevent heat illnesses. Much of the work done by HeatGuy, Llc. employees will be done in the shade, but occasionally work will need to be done in the attic area or on rooftops. Trim, maintenance, service and repair crews will be exposed to direct sunlight and hot attics.
·
We encourage any crew that needs to do
attic work to do it first thing in the morning if possible.
·
We encourage all crews to start their
days earlier in the summer so they can clock out and go home before the hottest
part of the day.
·
We encourage the use of and will
provide cooling vests with ice packs for anyone who wants one.
·
We will provide enough shade, an air-conditioned
vehicle or office to fit everyone taking a break at the same time with room
enough for everyone to sit comfortably.
· Use shade or your van’s air-conditioner at regular, mandated break intervals (see below) and whenever you need to cool down. If your van's air-conditioner is not working properly, please notify management immediately so your van can be swapped for a van with working air-conditioning and your assigned van's air-conditioning can be repaired post-haste.
For light commercial jobs, if the contractor we are working for fails to provide cooling areas, use your air-conditioned van as a cooling center.
Crew lead is responsible to assess cooling
centers on the job site. That person will:
- Assess the need
for shade at the jobsite based on the size of the crew, the available
means for shade or other cooling methods, the proximity to work areas, and
other factors that affect the provision of shade or alternatives.
- Ensure shade or
other alternatives are set up properly and that van air-conditioners run properly.
- Encourage everyone
to use shade or air-conditioning to prevent heat illness or to recover if they
start to feel sick.
2. Hydration
· • Pre-hydrate and eat a healthy breakfast
to make sure you start your day ahead of dehydration and electrolyte depletion.
· • We will ensure you have personal coolers to carry water, electrolyte replacement meals, sports drinks and snacks. Employees may use their own coolers if desired. If you do not have a cooler and cannot afford one let management know and we'll get you one.
· • You will have a vehicle to go buy more ice, water, electrolyte replacement drinks, meals and snacks whenever needed.
· • Don’t wait to be thirsty to drink. Drink small amounts often throughout the day to stay hydrated. High quality sport drinks are okay, however, they should be drunk at a 1:1 ratio of water to sports drink.
· • Avoid drinks with caffeine and high sugar content like sodas and energy drinks. Sugar is thought to dehydrate through the interaction of sugar and water within the cells. Higher sugar intake causes the cells in the body to transfer more water and increase urination.
· • Coffee and tea in moderation is okay, just be sure to not over-load them with sugar. According to multiple studies, caffeine in coffee and tea do not dehydrate you and may even add to your fluid intake.
· • However, caffeine should be avoided during strenuous activities in the heat because both heat and caffeine raise your heart rate, and often blood pressure which can be damaging to your body.
· • According to OSHA and WISHA, each worker needs to drink approximately 1 quart of suitably cool water each hour, i.e. there are 4 quarts in a gallon, so each person needs to carry with and consume about 2 gallons per 8 hour shift in very hot weather.
· • This estimate of how much water a person needs to consume is just that—an estimate. In reality, humans come in many shapes and sizes, and many things such as whether or not a person has pre-hydrated before work or come to work dehydrated can affect how much water a person needs to drink in an 8-hour shift. Drinking too much water can lead to overhydration and can also be a health hazard, so do not force yourself to drink a quart an hour just to be in compliance. See: https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-too-much-water-intake
· • HeatGuy, Llc often purchases bottled
water for employee’s convenience, but many employees prefer to bring their own
coolers and sports drinks and that’s ok, as long as everyone has or is able to
get about 2 gallons of water per 8-hour shift.
3.
Electrolytes
https://www.verywellhealth.com/electrolyte-drinks-7973306
“Electrolytes are essential minerals
that conduct electrical messages in the body. They help the body regulate fluid
levels, energy output, brain function, muscle control, and heart rhythm.1
MedlinePlus. Fluid and electrolyte balance.
Primary electrolytes that our
bodies need include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride, and bicarbonate. When your
electrolyte levels are too high or too low, uncomfortable symptoms and even
life-threatening problems can occur.
Our bodies lose electrolytes
through sweat and waste products. After strenuous exercise or gastrointestinal
loss (diarrhea or vomiting)…”
It is vitally important that electrolytes are replaced
regularly when working in the
heat. While sports drinks can be a good
source of electrolyte replacement, water is still essential. When using sports
drinks, dilute 50/50 with water or drink a 1:1 ratio of water to sports drink. Eating a healthy, varied diet is essential
to getting all nutrients including electrolytes.
4. Adjusting to Heat (Acclimatization)
According to the CDC and NIOSH at
this site: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/acclima.html#:~:text=For%20new%20workers%2C%20the%20schedule,and%20100%25%20on%20day%204.
“Acclimatization is the beneficial physiological adaptations that
occur during repeated exposure to a hot environment. These physiological
adaptations include:
- Increased
sweating efficiency (earlier onset of sweating, greater sweat production,
and reduced electrolyte loss in sweat).
- Stabilization
of the circulation.
- The
ability to perform work with lower core temperature and heart rate.
- Increased
skin blood flow at a given core temperature.
To acclimatize workers, gradually increase their exposure time in
hot environmental conditions over a 7-14 day period. New workers will need more
time to acclimatize than workers who have already had some exposure.
Acclimatization
schedule
- For new
workers, the schedule should be no more than a 20% exposure on day 1 and
an increase of no more than 20% on each additional day.
- For
workers who have had previous experience with the job, the acclimatization
regimen should be no more than a 50% exposure on day 1, 60% on day 2, 80%
on day 3, and 100% on day 4.
In addition, the level of acclimatization each worker reaches is
relative to the initial level of physical fitness and the total heat stress
experienced by the individual.
Maintaining
acclimatization
Workers can maintain their acclimatization even if they are away
from the job for a few days, such as when they go home for the weekend.
However, if they are absent for a week or more then there may be a significant
loss in the beneficial adaptations leading to an increased likelihood of
heat-related illness and a need to gradually reacclimate to the hot
environment.
Some additional information on maintaining acclimatization:
- It can
often be regained in 2 to 3 days upon returning to a hot job.
- It
appears to be better maintained by those who are physically fit.
- Seasonal
shifts in temperatures may result in difficulties.
- Working
in hot, humid environments provides adaptive benefits which also apply in
hot, desert environments, and vice versa.
- Air
conditioning will not affect acclimatization. “
____
Unfortunately, our average (mild) temperatures in this area do not always allow for high heat acclimatization. Therefore, it is very important to follow the guidelines herein.
Our crews are usually made up of 2-3 people. Everyone should
be self-aware and observe each other for HRI’s.
If workers are not close enough together to be in constant communication,
cell phone communication will be necessary.
Check in with each other at least every 15 minutes, which also happens
to be a good time to make sure you’ve all had about 1 cup of water (4 cups in a
quart of water).
New workers, workers who have been away from the heat for a week or more, and crews working during a heat wave should listen to their bodies, rest in the shade or air-conditioning when needed and follow CDC/NIOSH acclimatization schedule above.
5. Preventative Cool-down Rest Periods
All workers are encouraged to take a preventative cool-down rest period anytime they feel the need in order to prevent overheating.
All cool-down rest periods are paid time unless taken during a meal period.
Any worker who starts to experience heat illness must be allowed to safely cool down, be closely monitored to verify that they are okay, need to be relieved of duty, or need prompt medical attention.
6. High Heat Procedures
When the temperature reaches 80--90°F, every worker is required to take at least a 10-minute cool down rest period in the shade every 2 hours. When the temperature reaches 100°F, every worker is required to take at least a 15-minute cool-down rest period in the shade hourly. All cool-down rest periods are paid time unless taken during a meal period.
|
Rest Period Requirements for High Heat |
|
|
Air Temperature |
Mandatory cool-down rest periods |
|
At or
above 80°F |
10
minutes every 2 hours |
|
At or
above 100°F |
15
minutes every 1 hour |
Crew lead is responsible for keeping track of the temperature and notifying workers of their break schedule.
7. Responding to Heat-related Illness
Let a supervisor or someone nearby know if you or a co-worker is experiencing any signs or symptoms of heat-related illness and take immediate action to ensure things don’t get dangerously worse.
1. Time is critical. Acting quickly increases the chances for a full recovery. Get the worker away from the hot area and into the cool shaded area provided. The houses rough-in crews work in have roofs for shade but an air-conditioned van or nearby store can also be used. If on a light commercial job, use the air conditioned van or a nearby store if the contractor we are working for fails to provide a cool down area.
2.
Let the worker
·
Rest and drink cool water
·
Replace electrolytes if nausea is not
present
·
Remove PPE, shoes, socks, shirt and
pants if necessary
·
Use the ice in your coolers to apply to
arm-pits, groin, back of neck and elsewhere if possible.
·
If no ice is available, simply wet the
worker down with water.
·
Fan or place ill worker in an air-conditioned
van.
·
NOTE: We encourage you to wear cotton
t-shirts because they can be wet down and worn to prevent HRI’s, but can also
be wet down and worn to avoid HRI or if a worker is experiencing an HRI.
· We also encourage the use of cooling vests with ice packs to prevent HRI’s. Contact Corinna at 360.772.3902
3. Never leave an employee who is experiencing heat-related problems alone because things could get worse.
4. If the employee does not respond quickly, dial 911 for emergency medical services. Since our work areas are multiple and vary from day to day, always know the approximate location of your work. If in a subdivision that may not be mapped be sure to communicate that with the 911 operator and if possible meet the ambulance at the entrance of the subdivision or a known nearby, mapped location.
8. Training
Each year, we will provide our employees with heat safety
training. The training will include the dangers of outdoor heat exposure, our
measures to protect employees, and actions each person must follow to prevent
heat-related illness.
Additional training will be scheduled and provided for new
hires and anyone who needs a refresher.
Training will be done as in years before, in a series and
via whatever means is most convenient and accessible to our employees and will
include this AIPP’s entire HRI section including:
· Heat can make them sick, and how to recognize the common signs and symptoms of heat-related illness in themselves and coworkers.
· Environmental factors that increase risk for heat-related illness such as higher temperatures, humidity, sunlight (working under direct sunlight makes it feel significantly hotter), additional sources of heat like powered equipment and asphalt, no wind, level of physical activity, work duration, and wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) or layers of clothing.
· Personal factors that may increase susceptibility to heat-related illness including age, physical fitness, not being acclimatized, having medical conditions such as hormonal and heart issues and diabetes, previous heat-related illness, pregnancy, dehydration, and use of substances that can affect the body’s response to heat like drugs, alcohol, and some medications.
· Removing heat-retaining PPE such as non-breathable chemical resistant clothing during all breaks is necessary to allow their body to cool down.
· Staying well hydrated by drinking small quantities of water or other acceptable beverages frequently throughout the day is a top priority to prevent heat illness.
· An acclimatization period of 14 days for workers newly assigned to work in the heat is highly important for their safety and why they may need to re-acclimatize if they spend a week or more away from the heat. The importance of gradually increasing work duration in the heat and the inability to build tolerance during sudden, short heat waves.
· Cool down rest periods are taken to prevent or recover from heat illness, they are mandatory when temperatures are 90°F or hotter, and are paid time unless taken during a meal period.
· The purpose of shade is to allow the body to cool down and anything that defeats that purpose or discourages or deters the use of shade is unacceptable. Workers also need to know the employers procedures for providing shade (or alternative ways to cool off) including locations and how to access.
· When the temperature reaches 90°F or hotter, everyone must be closely observed for signs and symptoms of heat illness. Training will include a description of how the employer will ensure observation and communication for crews and lone workers.
· Heat illness can progress quickly and how to immediately report signs or symptoms of heat-related illness they experience or observe in coworkers, and how to immediately respond to prevent the situation from becoming a medical emergency. They will also need know how to identify and what to do during a heat-related medical emergency (e.g., potential heat stroke).
We will train supervisors on the
following (in addition to what is detailed for employees above):
· The procedures to follow to implement
the heat-related illness prevention plan including the acclimatization
schedule, how to keep track of environmental conditions throughout the day,
when to increase the number of breaks or stop work early, to check that workers
are accessing shade and water (especially for mobile operations), encourage
them to stay hydrated, and communicate with lone workers to ensure they are
safe.
· Type of shade or cooling method that will be provided for all employees and where it’s located. For example, when to provide alternative cooling methods like cooling vests and gel-filled bandanas or effective means.
• Close observation procedures for when an employee is acclimatizing to the heat and when the temperature is at or above 90° F.
· What the Supervisor needs to do if an employee shows signs and symptoms of possible heat-related illness including appropriate emergency response procedures including how to transport any affected employees to a medical service provider.
_________
Is our Accident and Illness plan working? Yes. See: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/Details/workersCompRates.aspx?UBI=602691268&LIC=HEATGL*911MO&VIO=&SAW=false&ACCT=88550302 --Employer’s claim costs are lower than average.
Questions, comments, concerns, near misses, and off-topic health and safety issues may be discussed in this text thread or directed to corinna.heatguyllc@gmail.com . Additionally, for questions concerning Safety Standards see lni.wa.gov.
Reply with 👍 or something like it to confirm attendance.
Next meeting: 06032024, about 2:30 p.m., virtual.
Worksite locations: Variable/multiple
Minutes written by: Corinna Fritz
Meeting Leader: Corinna Fritz
Archives of Safety Meetings may be found in Box.com under the Health and Safety file as well as at www.hgsafety.blogspot.com.
