Brad Mang, FRSA Self Insurers Fund Loss Control Consultant
As roofing contractors there are many different types of safety considerations that have to be addressed each day with your employees. There are the main concerns of following all of the OSHA standards for fall protection, personal protective equipment, electrical safety and the list goes on, but many times we can forget to address the issue of heat stress on our employees as you may feel that dealing with the heat just comes with the job.
Each year 20 to 30 people in the United States lose their lives due to heat exposure and many thousands more suffer different types of heat related illnesses, all of which could have been prevented with training and an understanding of what to look for when heat stress occurs.
Any employee who is exposed to hot and humid conditions is at risk of heat stress illnesses, but with that being said, heat doesn’t affect everyone the same, so it is important to know your employees. Those that are at the highest risk are employees that may be overweight, take certain medications, new employees who have not been exposed to high heat environments, and older employees.
Since heat stress is a broad term it is important to understand the four different types of heat related conditions and the best ways to prevent them.
■ Heat Rash, which is the least serious of the four conditions. A heat rash is usually a formation of small red blisters or pimples that appear on the skin and are easily taken care of by keeping the affected area cool and dry until the rash dissipates.
■ Heat Cramps can be an early sign that you are losing fluids and electrolytes and most often affects the muscles that you use while you are working. The problem with heat cramps is that you usually don’t know you have them until you stop using these muscles, either when you take a break or stop working for the day. Heat cramps can be prevented by replacing fluids, eating a small snack and resting. If heat cramps continue more than a couple of hours medical attention may be required.
■ Heat Exhaustion is a type of condition that can happen in high heat environments and can be a very serious heat illness. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are headaches, dizziness, fainting, weakness, vomiting, high body temperature and confusion. It is very important to recognize these symptoms, both by the person experiencing them and coworkers. The faster the effects of heat exhaustion can be counteracted the easier it will be to recover from them. The effected employee should try to sip cool water and, if possible, cool down with cold compresses to the head, neck, and underarm areas. Medical attention is usually required for the employee due to the seriousness of this condition and should be given as soon as possible to prevent heat stroke.
■ Heat Stroke is the most critical form of heat stress and can be fatal to an employee. Symptoms include confusion, extremely high body temperature, seizures, hot/dry skin, and loss of consciousness. If it is suspected that an employee has heat stroke call 911 immediately and try to keep the employee cool until medical assistance arrives.
Contractors can help protect employees from the dangers of heat exposures by following a few simple guidelines.
■ First and foremost is training. Employees should be routinely trained, either in safety meetings or tool box talks, about the signs and symptoms of heat stress illnesses and what to do to prevent these types of injuries.
■ A contractor should also implement a program that allows new workers to gradually acclimate to high heat environments. A “Buddy System” where a new employee is paired with a veteran employee works well for this and other safety concerns.
■ Water must be provided to the employees. Hydration is one of the key factors to preventing heat illness. There should be enough water supplied so that each employee has five to seven ounces every 15 minutes. This can add up to two gallons of water per work day.
■ Require employees to take rest breaks in cool shaded areas.
■ Try to schedule heavier workloads during the coolest part of the day.
■ When possible rotate workers into other positions with less heat exposure.
■ Require employees to wear light colored clothing. Employees should not be allowed to wear shorts or no shirts due to OSHA standards on Personal Protective Equipment. Long pants and shirts also help keep sweat on the skin which helps to cool the employee’s body temperature.
■ Encourage employees to follow healthy eating habits. Fruits can provide needed electrolytes and minerals to combat heat illnesses.
■ Create a “TEAM” environment in your company. employees working together and monitoring each other for signs of heat illnesses.
As you may know, OSHA does not have a specific standard to address working in hot environments, but does state that an Employer has a duty to protect their workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, including heat related hazards. Each year OSHA has a national emphasis program dedicated to heat stress. The “Water. Rest. Shade.” program provides both employers and employees with many valuable training tools to prevent heat related injuries. Visit www.OSHA.gov for more information
You may also contact the FRSA Self Insurers Fund for more information on safety and workers’ compensation insurance at 800-767-3772 ext. 200.
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