Heat Illness Prevention Programs

Jacki Mortenson, Risk Manager

Heat Illness Prevention Programs at our work places are still Cal/OSHA's #1  citation this time of year regardless if your work production is outdoors or indoors.  Heat is heat and employees getting injured from it inside or outside is preventable!  So let's combat heat illness on the job by doing the following:

1. Train your employees to recognize what heat illness is and how to take care of themselves!  This is an annual training requirement that can be simply done by briefing/documenting this month's safety newsletter.
2. Have your supervisors conduct shade and water assessments on the job site.  Do your employees have both available to them when temps are going to rise above 85 degrees?   
3. Does your business NEED to have a written Heat Illness Prevention Program?   If the extent of your scope of business requires your supervisors to do and know the following, then yes lets work on drafting you a written heat illness prevention program.

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Every one of us has tripped, slipped, and fallen.We cannot call ourselves humans if we have never done that. We tend to walk from A to B with our heads up toward our destination. The problem is that all kinds of hazards exist between where our eyes are looking and the ground on which we are walking.

Whether the hazard is a vehicle concrete stop block in a parking lot, or a cord across a walkway, or oil on the floor in a garage, if we are not looking down at the moment, we could find ourselves on the ground in a split second.

Seeking to prevent trip, slip, and fall accidents is a process. It is a little bit easier inside facilities because we can find trip and slip hazards and remove them. We cannot eliminate the human element where the involved person is not looking, but we can eliminate hazards.

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Q. When using a work platform that is within my CG will I use the fork load chart and reduce the lift by the weight of the basket? I do not see where the manufacturer has a specific load chart for work platforms.  

A. In regards to mounting a work platform on a telehandler, please note that ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 states:

5.15 Elevating Personnel

5.15.1 A rough terrain forklift truck shall not be used to lift people unless there is no other practical option. If a rough terrain forklift truck must be used to lift people, the following precautions for the protection of personnel shall be taken:

(t) the combined mass (weight) of the platform, load, and personnel shall not exceed one-third of the capacity at the related load center position as indicated on the information plate(s) of the rough terrain forklift truck on which the platform is used;

Also keep in mind that if you are using a variable reach (telehandler) RT unit, the capacity will change based on the configuration (boom position, use of outriggers, etc.) which means you can't exceed 1/3 of the rated capacity in the unit's weakest configuration throughout the lift.

In addition, many RT telehandler manufacturers prohibit the use of their units as personnel elevating devices so be sure to look in the manufacturer's make and model specific manual for information on it first.