The Long Hot Summer – Heat Illness Prevention

When temperatures and humidity rise, workers risk heat-related illness, which can be fatal. Even in years with no heat wave, hundreds of heat-related deaths occur in the United States. Heat is a particularly serious hazard in outdoor work such as construction and agriculture. Californians know this all too well:

• California has the largest number of crop workers in the US, and thousands lose work time to occupational injury or illness every year. 
• Heat illness cases on California farms occur at a rate three times higher than in all of the state’s industries combined.
• In July of 2011, six deaths related to heat stress were under investigation, two of which were farm workers. So far, two heat-related deaths have been confirmed.

Cal/OSHA conducts more than 3000 worksite heat inspections statewide each year. If inspectors find no water or shade at the site on a hot day, consequences can include workplace shutdowns and steep fines.

• Following two workplace incidents of heat illness in July 2011—one of them fatal—Cal/OSHA investigated two farm labor contractors. Both were cited for violating state heat illness prevention standards, and fined a total of more than $135,000.
• In all last year, Cal/OSHA issued 919 citations that cost California employers more than half a million dollars.

This is why knowledge and action is important.

California’s heat illness prevention requirements were strengthened in 2010 to include high-heat provision that five different industries–agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation/delivery of agricultural products–must implement whenever temperatures reach 95 degrees. These requirements include observing employees, closely supervising new employees, and reminding all workers to drink water throughout their shift.

Heat-related incidents have decreased in California over the few years. In 2006 less than a third of California employers complied with heat illness regulations; last year more than three-quarters were in compliance. But there’s still room for improvement.

HEAT ILLNESS AWARENESS

The body normally cools itself by sweating. During extremely hot weather, and especially hot humid weather, sweating is not enough. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels and heat illness can develop. Heat-related illnesses include:

• Heat rash - skin irritation from excessive sweating
• Heat cramps - muscle pains or spasms that happen during heavy exertion
• Heat exhaustion - heavy sweating, rapid breathing and a fast, weak pulse
• Heatstroke - The most serious heat related illness in which body temperature may rise above 106° F in minutes; symptoms include dry skin, rapid pulse, dizziness, confusion, irrational behavior, convulsions, and coma,. More than twenty percent of heat stroke cases result in death.

Workers with heat stress symptoms are more accident-prone, increasing chances of workplace injury. In addition, heat illness prevention helps increase productivity, as overheated employees work less efficiently. In our continuing effort to educate California employers and protect workers, we are holding a free seminar “Heat Illness Prevention for Outdoor Work” across the state, in addition to the myriad of safety resources available.

For additional information on heat illness prevention and sample employer procedures, visit www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html.