While there is still no federal standard on prevention of worker exposure to extreme heat, a bill is currently sitting in Congress that hopes to establish such a standard. In addition, there are federal recommendations and guidance that can prove useful for employers looking to protect workers from heat illness.
The Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate in April by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Named after a 53-year-old farm worker who died in 2004, the bill would direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an occupation safety and health standard to protect workers from heat-related injuries and illness. A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.
“Protecting workers from heat stress is essential, particularly as global temperatures continue to rise and extreme weather conditions become more common,” said Brown in a release. “Every worker deserves a safe work environment, and this legislation is an important step toward creating national standards and protections that will keep workers safe on the job as the risks of heat stress increase.”
The bill would require OSHA to establish a standard to protect workers in high-heat environments with measures such as paid breaks in cool places, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness. It would also direct employers to provide training for employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness, and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.
Similar bills have been introduced in recent years but have not been passed.
Meanwhile, some states—including Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota—have passed rules about worker conditions in extreme heat that require employers to provide cool-down breaks, cool drinking water, and training on how to spot signs of heat illness.
OSHA
Although there is no specific standard addressing heat illness, OSHA provides guidance in Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers.
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act says that employers have a duty to protect workers from serious hazards in the workplace, including heat-related hazards. The guide explains how to use the heat index to determine when extra precautions are necessary at a work site to protect against extreme heat. The heat index system was developed by the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, combining both air temperature and relative humidity into a single value that indicates the apparent temperature in Fahrenheit, or how hot the weather will feel.
According to OSHA, a heat index of less than 91 degrees is considered a lower risk level and employers should provide basic heat safety and planning measures. From 91 to 103 degrees, the risk level is moderate; employers should implement precautions and heighten awareness. The risk level is high from 103 to 115 degrees and additional precautions should be taken to protect workers. When temperatures are greater than 115 degrees, the risk level is very high to extreme, which triggers even more aggressive protective measures.
Employers should develop a heat-related illness prevention plan before heat index levels rise, according to the OSHA guide. Elements of such a plan include:
- Supplies: Ensuring adequate water, provisions for rest areas, and other supplies
- Emergency planning and response: Preparing survivors and crews for emergencies
- Worker acclimatization: Gradually increasing workloads, allowing more frequent breaks as workers adapt to the heat
- Modified work schedules: Establishing systems to enable adjustments to work schedules
- Training: Preparing workers to recognize heat-related illness and preventive measures
- Physiological, visual, and verbal monitoring: Using direct observation and physiological monitoring to check for signs of heat-related illness
It’s important to train workers before it gets hot about safe work practices. Prepare workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, how to prevent it, and what do to if someone has symptoms. Reinforce the training on hot days.
Track the weather forecast for the work site daily and assess the risk to workers. You should know how hot it will be during scheduled work activities and use the information to determine which preventive measures should be taken.
Implement your plan when the heat index is at or above 80 degrees. Adjust the risk level based on site conditions (direct sunlight vs. shaded, with breeze), workload, and type of protective clothing.
NIOSH recommendations
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also offers recommendations for dealing with heat stress in the workplace. Employers should reduce workplace heat stress with engineering controls that could include increasing air velocity, using reflective or heat-absorbing shielding or barriers, and reducing steam leaks, wet floors, or humidity.
Work practice recommendations include:
- Limit time in the heat and/or increase recovery times spent in a cool environment
- Reduce the metabolic demands of the job
- Use special tools to minimize manual strain
- Increase the number of workers per task
- Train supervisors and workers about heat stress
- Implement a buddy system where workers watch each other for signs heat stress
- Require workers to self-monitor and create a work group (i.e., workers, a qualified healthcare provider, and a safety manager) to make decisions on self-monitoring options and standard operating procedures
- Provide adequate amounts of cool, potable water near the work area and encourage workers to drink frequently
- Institute a heat acclimatization plan and increase physical fitness
The NIOSH page also includes recommendations on training, acclimatization, hydration, and rest breaks.