I’m Richard Brennan Health & Safety Coordinator I work in the Risk Management/Environmental Health and Safety Department.
Topics for Discussion • RM/EHS Office Personnel • General Employee Safety Resources • CSULA Health & Safety Performance • Injury & Illness Prevention Program • Fire Life Safety • Emergency Preparedness • Cart Policy/Vehicle Use On Campus • Hazardous Materials/Waste Management • Globally Harmonized System (GHS) • Heat Illness/HeatStress
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Here are the topics for discussion. I’ll be talking about our department and the resources that EH&S provides The University’s safety performance The University’s safety program Emergency preparedness Driving carts on campus Our hazardous materials program
RM/EHS Department Kevin T. Brady
Director, RM/EHS Ext. 3-3527
Richard Brennan Health & Safety Coordinator
Ext. 3-3549
Tanyi Obenson Chemical Safety Officer/ Radiation Safety Officer
Ext. 3-3546
Andrew Wilson Hazardous Materials Technician
& Biological Safety Officer Ext. 3-6359
Daniel Thomas Risk Management
Coordinator Ext. 3-3534
Antonio Tinoco Chemical Safety Student Assistant
Ext. 3-6358
Obie Valdez Administrative Assistant
Ext. 3-3531
TBD Environmental Affairs &
Emergency Ops/BCP Officer Ext. X-XXXX
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Our Organization chart for the Risk Management / Environmental Health and Safety Department. Go through the titles only.
General Employee Safety Resources •RM/EHS Website
http://www.calstatela.edu/ehs
Employee Safety Handbook http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/groups/Environmental Health and Safety/empsafetyhdbk.pdf
Training Calendar http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/groups/Environmental Health and Safety/training/training_sched_2015.pdf
The RM/EHS website contains a wealth of information. I am providing a handout the summarizes these and several other locations. You have as a handout the Employee Safety Handbook. It is online on our website. This pamphlet tells you the many responsibilities you have as employees. Please read the handbook. You can find our Training Calendar here. RM?EHS provides several specific trainings held monthly. Among them are: Training Calendar provides our regularly scheduled training for the year. For example Ergonomics, Back and Lifting Safety, Electric Cart Safety, Defensive Defensive Driving, Blood Borne Pathogens, not to mention the many trainings for the Trades such as forklift, high reach, etc. Our buildings are old and many do contain asbestos and lead. Asbestos may causes various forms of lung cancer when inhaled. Lead accumulates in the blood and bones affecting learning and cognitive ability, especially in young children. The known locations that contain asbestos have been stabilized. If an older building built before 1985 has work that will disturb the area, we will test for asbestos and lead prior to actual work in order to ensure the protections are in place. The website has a memo outlining procedures and a list of all building locations containing known asbestos. Each of the buildings has a Building Coordinator that has been assigned to control emergency evacuation training and hazard assessment. If you have concerns or problems related to building operations, contact your building coordinator. Finally, the Campus Telephone directory contains a wealth of information about emergency evacuations, assembly areas and building coordinators. The last print date was 2010. Don’t throw them out!
In this chart and the one following, you will see that we are doing quite well in containing injuries. Here, we are #7 out of all the CSU campuses in injuries reported to OSHA for 2013.
LOCATION
1.29 1.34 1.42 1.54 1.56 1.58 1.58
1.88 2.09
2.23 2.32 2.33 2.42 2.52 2.63
2.79 2.96 3.02 3.05 3.10
3.27 3.30
3.89
5.09
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
INJU
RIES
/ILL
NES
S pe
r 100
EM
PLO
YEES
Average Total Incident Case Rate (TCIR)
All CSU Campuses, 2007-2014
CSU TCIR Overall Average (2.47)
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We are proud of our injury and illness performance. Over the last 5 years, we have the least injuries of all the CSU campuses. This graph shows our incident rate since 2008. This chart shows that for every 100 workers we had about 1 1/3 people injured. The average for universities nationally is 2.4 injuries per 100.
CSULA HEALTH & SAFETY PERFORMANCE
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 MMP Student Bargaining Unit
Slip/Trip/Fall 20%
Laceration 29%
Sprains/Strains
35%
Other 16%
2014 Total Injuries by Cause
0
1
0
9
4
2
0
4
0
4
0
1
0
5
7
3
0
2
0
4
0 0 0
2
1
0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tota
l Inj
urie
s
2014 Total injuries by Unit First Aid
Recordable
Lost Time
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Looking at the injury statistics for this campus, Slips/Trips/Falls is the most prevalent injury. I want to point out one class of workers. Student workers, YOU GUYS, recorded the highest number of injuries resulting in modified work. Put that together withSlips/Trips/Falls – Can you figure out what type of injury has been occurring? – It’s an injury related to young workers. Cell phone use – especially texting on stairways. Actually custodian Slips/Trips/Falls was high. Its been going down recently while Student workers slips/trips/falls is going up ! Sprains and strains contains many of the ergonomic issues. Let me restate that we offer a workstation ergonomics training every month. Info-- Unit 2Health Services Unit 3Faculty Unit 4Academic Support Unit 5Grounds, Custodians, Food Services Unit 6Trades Unit 7Mail, Police, Parking, Dormitory Supervisor Unit 8Police Unit 9Admin. Support Assistants MPPspecial/technical StudentStudent workers
Injury & Illness Prevention Program Program Elements
http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/groups/Environmental Health and Safety/injury_illness_prgrm.pdf
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The Injury & Illness Prevention Program itself can be found on our website. The program is required by CalOSHA in order to furnish our employees with a safe and healthful workplace. It has the components you see listed. Each component is essential in assembling a quality safety program. Recordkeeping provides proof that the other elements have been properly addressed.
The President and Departments we’ve addressed. Here is where the power is: It employees. Aren’t we all employees. Our responsibility is to attend the provided safety training and to abide by that training. Further, employees have a vital role to collaborate with their supervisor in determining hazards, developing procedures, and mitigating those hazards. Who is better suited to discover and mitigate hazards than those that work with these hazards on a daily basis! What I am saying is: We need your eyes and your mind to solve the problems that you face.
IIPP - RESPONSIBILITY
• University President (funding, standards) – Primary Delegation:
• RM/EHS Director Chemical Safety Officer Biological Safety Officer Radiation Safety Officer Health & Safety Coordinator Building Administrators
• Employees for their Own & Co-Worker Safety (attend training, following rules, providing feedback, participation)
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The ultimate responsibility goes to the President. He has signed on to the entire program and establishes funding priorities. RM/EHS department is delegated to provide the standards, general training and help the departments to implement their specific programs. The departments actually implement their specific program, they organize the supervisors and employees to recognize hazards and decide on the best approach to mitigate hazards. Employees duty is to not merely follow the rules – let’s talk about employees…
• Provide the Proper Tools and Resources to Perform the Job Safely
• RM/EHS writes the generally applicable Policies/Procedures: – Electrical Safety Program – Chemical Hygiene Plan – Electric Cart Safety
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The job of supervisors is to provide time for training and to assess working conditions, processes and practices. The supervisors provide the training to do the job safely. RM/EHS can help by providing regulatory guidelines. Explain what Engineering controls are. Explain what PPE is. Where PPE has been decided to be appropriate, supervisors will provide, inform and discipline in cases of non-compliance. RM/EHS can train to a limited extent. Same for tools and other job resources. RM/EHS is program oversight not job implementation. Explain implementing Policies and Procedures Here is a list of some of the programs and procedures that are implemented by supervision
Bare Bones Hazard Analysis
Task Hazard Hazard Controls
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Let me give you a simple tool. This is the essential part of hazard analysis. A workplace involves several tasks or work processes. List them in the first column. For each task, list all of the hazards in column two. Take each hazard and list the means that best reduces the hazard. It systematically reveals hazards and finds ways to reduce them.
IIPP – COMMUNICATION • University Safety Committees
The Safety Committees Risk Management Safety Committee (overarching safety committee made up of 21 participating areas) Areas such as -- SETC State Employees Trades Council has meeting and sends a rep. Departments meet and send a representative. Safety Communications – Email provides the way to broadcast bulletins, reports and safety alerts. Reporting Unsafe Conditions is fundamental to the program. Best is to Report to the building administrator or your supervisor. These positions are directly responsible and should be informed. The building administrator handles life safety facility problems. If you need further assistance, are not getting a response or believe that by reporting through your department, that it could be a problem for you, RM/EHS can help. Use the Hazard Report Form. This is filled out and returned to RM/EHS. It can be marked anonymous. We will follow through with appropriate action.
IIPP – HAZARD ASSESSMENT • Reports of discovered hazards to RM/EHS,
Facilities or WC • Annual Site Inspections • Review & Approval of ALL Chemicals
Purchased by CSULA & UAS • Review of New Processes via Job Hazard
Analysis (JHA) • Building Administrator’s Responsibilities • Every Employee has a part!
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There are various levels of revealing safety problems within the University. The department and supervisors are at the center of responsibility for finding hazards. RM/EHS also participates by doing 1 or 2 building inspections each month. One way we don’t want is to find out when an injury occurs. When it does, every one investigates and gets to the root cause. Then the department mitigates the hazard. RM/EHS provides independent investigations. All chemicals go through EH&S on receipt by the university. Proper safety protocols must be in place before use. As workers, we have 2000 pairs of eyes able to see problems. We are everywhere on campus. Report problems so that problems do not become injuries. Someone going home injured.
• RM/EHS OFFICE & Supervisor Review • Public Safety Incident Report • Department Management
Using Accident Pyramid…
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In the event of an accident a report is written. The accident is investigated to determine root cause and corrective action. University Police have an extensive procedure to take statements and write detailed reports. The injured Employee and his Supervisors make written injury reports to include corrective action recommendations. It is the Supervisor’s responsibility to carry out corrective action.
Accident Pyramid
Study of accidents by H. W. Heinrich and by Frank Bird and George Germain, 1 ¾ Million injuries in the study, 3 Billion hours worked.
WE CAN PREVENT ACCIDENTS BY REPORTING HAZARDS / NEAR MISSES / FIRST AID INCIDENTS !!!
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The Accident pyramid can be instructive. One of the basic premises of safety theory is that for every major injury there are many , even hundreds of indications that an injury of that sort can happen. Given long enough – it will happen. So we study near misses in order to discover the hazards. Therefore, report the problems you see.
IIPP – TRAINING & INSTRUCTION • CSULA TRAINING REQUIREMENTS – AP 430
GENERAL SAFETY TRAINING – Ergonomics – Heat Stress Injuries, etc.
• SPECIALIZED TRAINING – Facilities Services Monthly Training Series – Lab Safety Offerings to Individual Labs
• Safety Checklists for Supervisors/Students http://edit.calstatela.edu/ehs/student-health-safety
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With this slide, let me just point out that Admin. Policy 430 lists what training is required for each job type. EH&S provides a lot of that training and can devise additional training by department request. We also provide checklists, lots and lots of specific safety checklists.
We’ve mentioned Inattentive movement in talking about cells phone use Going down steps. Hopefully you have been instructed in the basics of lifting correctly. Bend your knees. Don’t push your limits. Machinery and construction have their own unique problems requiring special training. PPE Even in office environments chemicals can be misused. Know what chemicals are hazardous and how to handle them safely. You may need to drive an electric cart on campus. They are dangerous to drive and dangerous to pedestrians. There is a whole program required before you are allowed to drive carts. Repetitive motion You will be using computers for many hours. This may result in injury if you are not using correct procedures. We have Ergonomic training programs and evaluation of you work stations available through the Safety department.
ERGONOMICS IN THE WORKPLACE
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What we teach is contained here. There is also a handout explaining how to set up an ergonomic chair. After proper chair setup, workstation orientation and environment, there is one more most important consideration; takes frequent breaks. Our bodies were designed to move, not to sit all day.
3a
Don’t place your safety in the hands of others!
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There is a lesson here. We each of us have a sense for what is not safe. Abide by that sense and DON’T PLACE YOUR SAFETY IN THE HANDS OF OTHERS!!
Workplace Safety Considerations
• Inappropriate tools
• Poor Judgment
• Complacency
• Insufficient Supervision
• Lack of Training or Awareness
• Poor Planning and Work Preparation
• Rush…get the Job done
Plan for Safety and stick to the plan! 3b
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All of these things contribute to an unsafe workplace. Slow down. Assess and Plan. The final two items are key to success. Make a plan and stick too it
FIRE LIFE SAFETY – TOPICS
• FIRE/EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
• WORKPLACE PREPAREDNESS
• REPORTING OF EMERGENCIES
• ALARM & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
• PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
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In the following slides you’ll see the elements of our Life Safety Program. Not just for fire but many types of emergencies.
FIRE/EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
• Fire Alarm Pull Stations • Fire Extinguishers • Spill Response Supplies • Fire Suppression Systems • Public Safety Mobile Command Vehicle • Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
– Lot 7
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The center of life safety is the ability to notify everyone in the building to evacuate. The fire pull station does this. They are located at the exits to each floor of each building. Don’t pull one if the alarm is already going off. The have to be found and reset manually with a special tool. The are fire extinguishers no more than 75 feet from any building location. We have a number of means to organize and communicate when disasters and emergencies occurs. The Emergency Operations Center and the Mobile EOC are two organization centers.
General Extinguishers •Class A - ordinary combustibles
•Class B - flammable liquids
•Class C - electrical fires – ABC Dry Chemical -- The Best !
Special Extinguishers •Class D - metals fires •Class K - kitchen fires
Fire Extinguisher Classes
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Here is a dry chemical extinguisher. The first thing If you are hesitant to use a fire extinguisher, don’t. Your safety is more important than the building. Dry chemical extinguishers are excellent in fighting small fires. There is only one type of fire that dry chemical is ineffective as an extinguisher – that’s flammable metal fires such as magnesium, lithium, sodium, and a few others. Otherwise, it is the best general purpose extinguisher.
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
• Four Types on Campus – ABC, BC, D & K
–PASS [Pull Aim Squeeze Sweep] – http://www.fireextinguisher.com/ – Once used, notify supervisor to get it exchanged
• Attend Quarterly “Hands-On” F/E Training – May 19th, 2015 @ 10:00 AM…Greenlee Plaza – Nov . 3rd, 2015 @ 10:00 AM…Greenlee Plaza
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How to use it. Use the PASS system. Pull the pin Aim at the base of the flame Squeeze the handle Sweep over the entire the base of the flame There is a hands-on training you can attend at Greenlee Plaza on October 3rd. Don’t try to test a dry chemical extinguisher. If you open the valve just a little, it will continue to leak until the pressure is gone – a few days. If you use it, tell your supervisor that it needs to be replaced and recharged.
• Area/Department Specific Plans – Driven by Building/Department Administrator – Support the University Plan – http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/police/docs/emerg_plan/multihazard.pdf
• Business Continuity Planning – http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/police/docs/emerg_plan/business_
continuity_plan.pdf
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You will find our emergency plans in the Multi-Hazard Plan. It’s website is here. Ensuring that the pathways and training for evacuation are adequate are responsibilities of the Building Coordinator. Removing physical hazards and open acees to emergency exits and pathways is the responsibility of the Building Coordinator. We need at least 36” for exit pathways. And make sure that cases/cabinets/shelving 6’ or higher are secure. That they won’t topple in an earhtquake. Remember that poor housekeeping can provide trip hazards and mask potential hazards like flammable liquids, etc.
• DIAL 9-1-1 For ALL Campus Emergencies – Public Safety Dispatch 24/7 Services – Fire, Police, HazMat, Medical Emergency, etc. – Cell phone use 323-343-3700
• Workday 8-5, M-F, Facilities Issues: – Ext. 3-3440 Facilities Work Control
• Hazardous Materials Inventory or Hazardous Waste Pick-Up: – Ext. 3-3531, 3-3546, or 3-6359
• Workers’ Compensation Ext. 3-3657
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If you need emergency services call 9-1-1 on university extensions. University Police can handle any emergency. Using a cell phone, 911 goes to the CHP. That takes time and delays the emergency response by 2-3 minutes. For cell phones, call 323-343-3700. That is the Public Safety front desk during business hours or Dispatch directly after hours. Here are other numbers you might need. Facilities Services for non-emergency facilities service. Call for hazardous waste pickup by calling EH&S Here is the Workers’ Comp number for illness and injury related service in HR.
ALARM & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS • Building Alarms • Employee & Student Notification System
– Registered automatically free – Opt-Out System – Text to inform with information in emergency – Make sure your personal information is correct.
• PA System – Building Specific, Campus and Mobile Systems
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You must evacuate in an emergency. It is a crime not to. Leave for as long as the alarm is sounding. One means of notification is available to cell phone users. You are registered if you have provided a cell number when writing initial personal information. Make sure the university has entered your information correctly. Access the GET system and check it. There are PA systems all over campus which can provide additional information. There are also mobile PA systems that can be set up.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS • Campus Conducts 3 Drills a Year (Minimum) • Know…
– Where Emergency equipment is Located – How to Safely Evacuate Area (2 Routes) – NO Elevators! – Where to Go to be Accounted For
• Building Specific Evacuation Locations
• Have Personal Supplies Ready in a To-Go Bag • Remember, as a State Employee YOU May be
Asked to Assist!
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It is very important that you know what to do in an emergency and where to go once outside. Know the several exit pathways and the assembly meeting areas. Put your work in a safe condition and exit by the closest safe means possible. Even in a drill, take a fire alarm seriously and do what is required. Do not use the elevator! Remember to take essential items needed if you were not allowed to return. Take your needed personal items with you: keys, purses, wallets, etc. As state employees, you have taken an oath to assist during emergencies if asked.
Where To Go?
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Here are two typical Evacuation Assembly area signs.
Cart Policy/Vehicle Use on Campus
• CSULA Vehicle Use Policy – http://www.calstatela.edu/sites/default/files/groups/Environmental%20Healt
h%20and%20Safety/cartpolicy.pdf
• Inner Campus Restricted Zone for Vehicles • Campus Pedestrian Friendly, Always
Pedestrians Have Right of Way! • Be Knowledgeable, Trained and Aware! • State Vehicle Driver Program
The University has a State Vehicle Driving Program. If you need to drive for the university, you must be in this program. This goes for electric carts also. It is the same program. You need your departmental authorization to be in this program. There are two trainings EH&S offer: Defensive Driving and Electric Cart Safety.
The accident in the upper photo happened when a student drove but was not trained or authorized. The accident in the lower photo occurred to trained drivers that traveled where they shouldn’t unaware of an overhead hazard.
Hazard Communication Program
• Employee Right-To-Understand the hazards in his/her workplace.
• System of Signs, Labels, Warnings and Safety Data Sheets
• Always Know hazards in Advance of Working with ANY Materials!
• GHS – GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF LABELING & COMMUNICATION
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You have a right to know the dangers you face. The Hazard Communication Program is set up to inform you of these hazards. We use the Globally Harmonized System of Labeling and Communication (GHS) to disseminate information through labeling, signs and data management systems. Always determine the hazard of the chemicals and other materials BEFORE you use or handle them.
What are the two major
elements in GHS? The two major elements of GHS are:
1. Classification of the hazards of chemicals according to the GHS rules. GHS provides guidance on classifying pure chemicals and mixtures according to its criteria or rules. 2. Communication of the hazards and precautionary information using Safety Data Sheets and labels: Labels - With the GHS system, certain information will appear on the label. For example, the chemical identity may be required. Standardized hazard statements, signal words and symbols will appear on the label according to the classification of that chemical or mixture. Precautionary statements may also be required, if adopted by your regulatory authority. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - The GHS SDS has 16 sections in a set order, and information requirements are prescribed.
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The GHS system uses labels and Safety Data Sheets to provide its information.
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) (formerly MSDSs)
http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/ehs/msds.php
Summary of Information Section by Section Sect. 1. Product and Company Identification Sect. 2. Hazards Identification Sect. 3. Composition / Info. on Ingredients Sect. 4. First-Aid Measures Sect. 5. Firefighting Measures Sect. 6. Accidental Release Measures Sect. 7. Handling and Storage Sect. 8. Exposure Control / PPE Sect. 9. Physical / Chemical Properties Sect. 13. Disposal Considerations Sect. 10. Stability and Reactivity Sect. 14. Transport Information Sect. 11. Toxicological Information Sect. 15. Regulatory Information Sect. 12. Ecological Information Sect. 16. Miscellaneous info Where to find SDSs:
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Safety Data Sheets are produced by manufacturers and are the most detailed information source on any hazardous chemical. The sixteen sections provide the information you need to protect yourself, handle/store and label the material, request further information, first aid measures, spill information, characteristics in a fire and more – all of this in one document. You will find an access link here and on the EH&S webpage to look up any hazardous material.
Supplier labels Labeling requirements are in a process of change from older HMS system to the new GHS system. The label shown is a typical GHS label. It will have the product name, a pictogram, signal word, hazard statement and supplier information as a minimum.
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Here is a typical label with its pictogram, signal word and hazard statement.
GHS Pictograms
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These are the standardized set of pictograms used to identify hazards.
Global Harmonized System (GHS) labels
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The pictograms each have a specific set of hazards they represent.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS / WASTE MANAGEMENT
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) provide all you need to know about the material’s hazards. – http://www.calstatela.edu/ehs/chemical-and-laboratory-safety
• Campus Storage Priorities – Storage for Bulk Hazardous Materials (put in locked HAZMAT sheds away from buildings) – Proper Signage [NFPA emphasis] – Consult with Chemical Safety Officer at 3-3546
• Once a hazardous material is considered waste it requires proper waste labeling – Call RM/EHS for Pick-Up at Ext. 3-3531 or 3-6359
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Once a hazardous material is considered waste, it receives a waste label. HAZARDOUS WASTE MUST BE LABELED !!!! and labeled properly There are 3 hazardous waste collection locations. Contact the our office for pick up and removal of hazardous waste. Once a hazardous material is determined to be waste it must be removed to an off-campus hazardous waste disposal site within 90 days.
All hazardous materials need to have labels. Here are examples.
OUTSIDE STORAGE FACILITIES
CSULA HAZ MATERIALS SIGNAGE
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Here is a typical hazardous label. The diamond shape is an NFPA diamond. It show the dangers that might occur if exposed to a fire. Blue is HEALTH, Red is FLAMMABILITY, Yellow is REACTIVITY and the lower white area is for special hazards. Each of the colored areas is ranked from least hazardous (zero) to most hazardous (4)
CSULA HAZARDOUS WASTE LABEL HAZARDOUS WASTE Hazardous Material (name & concentration): __________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Quantity: _____________________ Hazardous Properties: ___flammable ___toxic ___reactive ___corrosive ___other-explain___________________ Physical State: ___liquid ___solid Satellite Accumulation Start Date: ____/____/____ Final Accumulation Start Date: (EHS only) ____/____/____ Prepared by: ______________ Room #: ______ Ext: ________ California State University, Los Angeles 5151 University Dr., Los Angeles, CA Environmental Health and Safety Office (323)343-3546
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This is a hazardous waste label. Is has what the substance is and when it was classified as a waste
Heat Illness Conditions
• Working in high heat can be DANGEROUS TO HEALTH • Mainly relates to working in direct sunlight • High Temperature [Trigger 80 degrees] • High Humidity • Clothing, Workload, Duration
45
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Here’s what you need to know about working in the sun on hot days. You cool your body by sweating. As the humidity goes up your sweat evaporates less. If your body temperature increases to say, 103 degrees, you will be suffering heat exhaustion symptoms. But 105 degrees and higher can kill you, it’s called heat stroke. Other things that effect cooling: A breeze helps to cool. Moisture proof clothing like Tyveks will increase the humidity next to your skin and reduces cooling to almost nothing.
Heat Illness Prevention
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Here is Cal OSHA’s chart relating temperature to humidity. It shows graphically how temperature and humidity together build to cause problems. Add the problems of working hard and types of clothing, and you can be at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke!
What You Need
Water Shade Rest
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In order to combat the effects of high heat and humidity you need Water, Shade and Rest. For water, start drinking water early. Employers need to supply 1 quart per hour per person. For rest and shade: get out of the sun and stop working. Your sweat will cool you. It’s best in a breeze. Employers need to allow shade and 5 minutes rest anytime it is requested. Above 95 degrees, supervisors need to have a means to check on their workers’ symptoms.
Heat Stroke • Hot, dry skin • Rapid breathing • Delirium • Convulsions • Unconsciousness or marked abnormal mental status
Water, Shade Rest, Possible SHC Evaluation
Immediate 911 call, Whole Body Cooling
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Here are symptoms indicating Heat Exhaustion: Headache Feeling faint, dizzy, weak Nausea Muscle cramps Cool skin, heavy sweating, increased pulse The most important thing here is cool skin. The body is still capable of cooling. If these symptoms don’t disappear easily, you should be evaluated by the SHC or other clinic. Heat Stroke, on the other hand, is a severely dangerous condition. It is known by hot, dry skin. There may be: Rapid breathing Delirium Convulsions Unconsciousness or marked abnormal mental status This is an immediate 911 call followed by cooling the worker’s body as quickly as possible with large quantities of water. But, do not have the worker drink water – that can kill. Wet their lips only.
Acclimatization
• A supervisor must understand acclimatization: – Heavy work in the sun needs several days of work
to allow the body to adjust. – Once acclimatized to heavy work, not working for
several days requires working up to heavy work again (a period of days).
– Pay closer attention to: • New workers • Returning workers (first of the season, vacations, etc.)
Heat Illness/Injury Risk Factors
• Clothing – best is cotton, loose with sleeves • Working hard creates heat • Alcohol, High Sugar and Caffeinated drinks
are diuretics (not helpful) • Medications – many create problems • Overweight and/or Older (>65 yr)
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Acclimatization is a recognized factor. It takes several days to adjust to hard work in the sun when you are not used to it or when returning from a week of rest. Student workers on a geology field trip , for example, may not be able to tolerate hiking long distances or working without shade. Watch you intake of fluids: Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, cola and tea are diuretics. You will excrete more liquid than you ingest.
Heat Illness Employer’s Required Prevention
• 80 degrees – Access weather forecasts (e.g., link below) – Provide Water – 1 qt./hour/person (clean, cool) – Provide Adequate Shade – enough for all workers – 10 minute Shade Breaks every 2 hrs – Shade Breaks on request until recovered
• 95 degrees – Emergency communications in place – Observation of Workers for symptoms – Close supervision of new employees – Buddy System
Cal OSHA requires that employers need to combat these more extreme heat conditions. Above 80 degrees university supervision needs to determine what temperature and humidity conditions are expected and to supply water (1 qt. per hour per person), provide shade and allow rest breaks on demand. Above 95 degrees, a means must be provided to observe workers for symptoms and pay increased attention to workers that have not adjusted to working in the heat.
