Heat Safety Tips 

Drink water often - even if you aren't thirsty.  

Thirst is a lagging indicator of dehydration. By the time a worker is thirsty, they may already be dehydrated and experiencing heat illness. Train your employees to drink small amounts of water often. Drinks containing caffeine, sugars and alcohol only speed up and intensify the affects of dehydration and heat illness. Plain, cool water is best.  

Rest in the shade when you need to cool down.  

California's heat standard gives employees the right to at least 5 minutes in the shade. This is in addition to the regularly scheduled breaks for meals and rest. Regular breaks are 10 minutes (paid) for every 4 hours of work, and a 30-minute meal break (unpaid) for every five hours worked. 

Report heat symptoms early.  

Instruct your employees to use the buddy system to watch out for each other. Make sure everyone knows exactly what heat symptoms may look like, including mimicking other health conditions like heart attacks and irritability or disorientation (drunkenness). 

Know what to do in an emergency. 

Make sure all employees know how to respond to heat symptoms, including how to give detailed and precise directions to the worksite in case outside medical help is needed. Emphasize that heat illness can quickly become deadly, so getting help right away is very important. 

Wear hats and light-colored clothing - they help block the sun.

Instruct employees to choose clothing that wicks away perspiration, like cottons, rather than materials that hold in heat and sweat, like polyester blends.

What is the Real Cost?

According to CalOSHA Consultation, heat illness may increase the costs of doing business by: 

• Reducing employee productivity and efficiency
• Increasing your medical and emergency services costs
• Taking up supervisory and administrative time
• Increasing workers' compensation premiums

Data released by the Arizona Department of Health Services shows the average per-person hospital treatment cost for a heat-related illness is about $7,500. (from the Yuma Sun)

Did You Know...? 

• In a normal year, approximately 175 Americans die from extreme heat. Young children, elderly people, and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to become victims.     
• Because men sweat more than women, men are more susceptible to heat illness and they become more quickly dehydrated.   
• Sunburn can significantly slow the skin's ability to release excess heat.   
• People living in urban areas may be at a greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than people living in rural regions. An increased health problem can occur when stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in urban areas, thus adding contaminated air to excessively hot temperatures.

from the FEMA Backgrounder: Extreme Heat 

What Can You Do?

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Welcome New Members

Protein Incorporated

Valero Energy - Wilmington Refinery

Alicia Kellie - County of San Mateo - Risk Management

Member of the Month

Kinder Morgan - Torrance

If you would like more information about Safety Center Membership and its benefits, please contact our Membership Coordinator by email or by phone at (800) 825-7262 x 214. 

Video of the Month 

Forums

Ripped from the Headlines  

Have you ever wondered what you would do if there was a serious accident at your facility? Would you be prepared to present evidence for your best defense? Does the idea of giving a deposition make you uncomfortable? June's forum will give you an inside look into the process from moment the accident occurs through end result using a real world example, "ripped from the headlines."

Speakers: Jon Moldestad, Accident Investigator,  David W. Donnell, Esq. and others!  

When: June 2, 2011 7:30 am - 9:30 am

  Where: Safety Center Incorporated, Room 108

Time & Cost: 7:30 am - 9:30 am/$10 at the door

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Heat Illness - "How Sun Savvy are you?"

What you need to know this season as the standard keeps changing... 

In spite of all the information available to us, questions remain. On August 19, 2010, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted, unanimously, to adopt the previously proposed revisions to the Heat Illness Prevention Standard. What are they, and how they affect you! This Safety Forum will provide you with a greater understanding and give you the direction you have needed.

Speaker: Dick Monod de Froideville, Health & Safety Professional

When: May 17, 2011

Where: Goldie Lewis Community Center, "Creative Corner" Room

Time & Cost: 8:30 am - 10:30 am/$10 at the door

RSVP Today!

40 Years of OSHA 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established in 1971. Since then, OSHA and state partners, coupled with the efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety. Fatality and injury rates have dropped markedly. Read more here.  

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