Heat-related illnesses are a serious occupational hazard. In response, OSHA has proposed a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Program aimed at protecting workers in both indoor and outdoor environments.
Heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths:
- From 2011 to 2022, there were 479 worker deaths in the United States. This is an average of 40 deaths per year, according to the American Public Health Association.
Heat Injury or illness can occur in both indoor and outdoor work settings. This Program is designed to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury.
Employers with 10 or more employees must have a written plan. Below is some information that the plan may be required to include:
- A Comprehensive list of all worker activities covered by the plan, Designation of Heat Safety Coordinator(s), monitoring requirements, heat injury and illness prevention policies and procedures, training, and recordkeeping.
- Heat Coordinator will monitor the heat index.
- Initial Heat Trigger is a Heat Index of 80°F.
Access to water, designated break areas to cool down with either air conditioning or shade.
- High Heat Trigger is a Heat Index of 90°F.
Provide employees with 15-minute breaks every 2 hours in a designated cool break area. Maintain communication with exposed employees. Designate one employee to observe other employees (no more than 20) for signs and symptoms of heat illness and injury. Place signs in indoor work areas with ambient temperatures that regularly exceed 120°F.
- It is expected that non-managers will have an opportunity to participate
- Annual Training for employees that covers: Heat stress hazards, heat injury and illness risk factors, signs and symptoms, how to report and respond to heat injury and illness.
- This has not been finalized as of today.
To learn more about ways to prevent heat stroke in employees connect with OneGroup’s risk management team.
OSHA Website for more information: https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking
CDC Website for more Information (archived website): https://www.cdc.gov./niosh/docs/2016-106/pdfs/2016-106.pdf
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