| Did you know that to combat climate change, the Biden-Harris Administration through executive order placed a greater emphasis on Heat Illness in the workplace. They did this by REDUCING the PEL or the Permissible Exposure Level from 95 degrees down to 85 degrees. This is being enforced by OSHA. Basically, any employer who exposes its employees to temperatures in excess of 85 degrees must train their employees on the dangers of Heat Illness. When possible, the employer must provide prevention measures. I have included Heat Illness for most of the companies I have been training for the past couple of years. But OSHA also suggests that a refresher course be given to all employees and that the company provide the employees with plenty of rest, water, and shade.
Heat Illness is real and Heat stroke is deadly serious. HI & HS most often occur when we take a person that is used to working in an air-conditioned setting and place him/her in a job that requires working outdoors. Today’s hiring climate often requires us to hire the first person who steps through our doors that meets all of our criteria. Then we train them and get him/her on the road servicing our accounts. Employers should be aware of this new initiative and take the appropriate actions.
- Consider the above statements when hiring a new employee. Has this person been in an office for the past 20 years? Acclimate this person to heat gradually.
- Make sure that all employees have been trained on Heat Illness.
- Be aware that COVID has restricted many workers' lung capacities and now complicates HI.
- Provide plenty of water for your employees and encourage them to take several bottles of water with them as they start their day.
- Instruct them to stay away from caffeine and alcohol.
- Consider having your employees start their day earlier. Say at 6 or 7 am and let them off early say 2 or 3 in the afternoon.
- Instruct them to notice the signs of heat illness:
- Excessive sweating or even worse the lack of sweat
- Nausea, vomiting, weak feelings, or tremors (or the shakes)
- Instruct the employees to seek help fast if they feel themselves overheating. Most often, PC and TC techs work alone so they will have to police themselves.
- If they feel themselves overheating, get to the truck, crank it up, and turn the air on.
- Instruct them to call the office and tell them to drink plenty of water.
- Instruct the employees not to drive in an altered state.
- Office staff should be instructed to inform management of an employee calling stating they are having symptoms of HI.
- Your management team should be ready to assist an employee who is suffering from HI and if needed call 911.
Doing these little simple things can make all the difference in keeping your employees healthy during the sweltering days of summer.
Thanks to Len Land of CSI Safety Consultants for the Bug Byte. If you have a Byte you would like us to run, please contact Lydia.
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