caltech heat illness prevention program caltech environment, health, and safety office
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Caltech Heat Illness
Prevention ProgramCaltech Environment, Health, and Safety Office
Learning Objectives
☼ Describe the Heat Illness Prevention Plan
☼ List the Risk Factors of Heat Illness
☼ Identify Types of Heat Illnesses
☼ Learn How to Prevent Heat Illness
☼ Identify Basic Responsibilities
What is Heat Illness?
☼ Our body has an internal thermostat• controls our temperature by sweating
for cooling
☼ Heat illness happens when• our bodies overheat and do not
have enough water to cool us
Our Prevention Plan
☼ Recognize the Risk Factors☼ Know Heat Illness Signs and
Symptoms☼ Emergency Procedures☼ Identify Methods to Prevent
Heat Illness
Risk Factors
☼ Environment• Air temperature and humidity• Radiant heat from the sun• Air movement• Workload severity and duration• Protective clothing and equipment worn by
employees
☼ Ourselves• Age, health, and degree of acclimatization• Water, caffeine, and alcohol consumption• Prescription medication use that may affect
the body’s water retention
Importance of Sweat
☼ Sweat is triggered when• our body reaches an internal
temperature at which sweat glands are triggered to create sweat on the skin for cooling
☼ Skin is the body’s Radiator • moving air over the skin increases
heat exchange for cooling
Heat Illnesses
☼ Sweat loss • reduces blood plasma volume (the liquid part of
blood)• may cause an electrolyte (e.g. sodium,
potassium, chloride) imbalance in the blood– stresses the cardiovascular system and contributes to
a faster increase in body temperature that may lead to either:
– Heat Exhaustionor
– Heat Stroke
Heat Exhaustion
☼ Symptoms• Weakness,
giddiness, nausea, headache
• Clammy, moist skin – pale or flushed
• Temperature normal or slightly above
☼ Treatment• Immediately move
victim to cool area, provide water and rest
• Anyone who loses consciousness or vomits requires further medical help
Heat Stroke
☼ Symptoms• Confusion,
delirium, convulsions, or unconsciousness
• Hot, dry skin and rapid pulse
• Very high temperature – above 103° F
☼ Treatment• Medical
emergency!• Immediately cool to
reduce core temperature
– Loosen/remove extra clothing
– Pour or sponge water over person or immerse
– Fan vigorously
Emergency and First Aid
☼ Report:• your or other co-worker’s signs and
symptoms of heat illness to you supervisor.
☼ Supervisors are to:• contact Security (x5000) to obtain medical
help.• be prepared to give an accurate work
location.
Steps for Preventing Heat Illness
☼ Acclimate☼ Dress for conditions☼ Drink plenty of fluids before
you’re thirsty☼ Access to shade
Acclimate – get used to the HEAT
☼ About 7 to 10 days☼ Work for short periods in the heat
• gradually increasing in time and intensity
☼ Stay in good shape• conditioned muscles work more
efficiently and generate less body heat
☼ If you spend time out of the heat due to vacation • you may need to acclimate again
Dress for Heat Conditions
☼ Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing• promotes heat loss by exposing sweat-laden
skin to the air• allows sweat to evaporate
☼ Heavy clothing and equipment • traps heat and sweat against the skin• forces the body to produce more sweat to
cool itself
Yes No
Drinking Water
☼ Don’t wait for warning signs☼ Drink water up to a quart each hour☼ Include sodium-containing snacks or
food to replace the electrolytes in body fluid
It is a Caltech safety policy to provide enough water for employees to drink one quart per hour or
have a means to replenish during the shift.
Caffeinated Drinks
☼ Caffeine is a drug, not a nutrient☼ Caffeine is a diuretic
• increases urine production• adds to dehydration
Preventing Heat Illness with Shade
☼ Do heaviest work in cooler (shaded) areas or in cooler time of day
☼ A variety of cooling methods include:• Ventilation, fans• Vehicle air conditioning, if applicable• Shielding or tent shading when air conditioning is not
available
It is Caltech’s safety policy to have access to shade, especially for those needing a break.
Supervisor Responsibilities
☼ Ensure employees receive heat illness training before working outdoors.
☼ Provide adequate water supplies • 2 gallons per person per
shift, • shade and/or air-
conditioned vehicles, if applicable.
☼ Be alert to any employee symptoms or signs of heat illness and take precautions as needed.
☼ Prepare, maintain, and follow emergency response plans in the event of an employee heat illness.
Employee Responsibilities
☼ Attend heat illness training☼ Follow heat illness
precautions when working outdoors• including frequently drinking
water
☼ Immediately report • any symptoms or signs of heat
illness in yourself or co-workers
Review Questions
☼ What are the Risk Factors to Heat Illness?• Environmental factors such as temperature and
humidity and personal factors such as health and water use
☼ How can you recognize Heat Stroke?• Confusion, delirium, convulsions, hot, dry skin
☼ How much water do you need to prevent heat illness?• At least one quart per hour per employee or two
gallons per shift per employee
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