Release Authorized by: / Danny Trahan, Safety Director / Manual Rev 4
HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM
HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM 1
PURPOSE 2
SCOPE 2
APPLICATION 2
DEFINITIONS 2
1.0 GENERAL 3
2.0 RESPONSIBILITIES 3
2.1 Site/Project Managers 3
2.2 Supervisors 3
2.3 Employees 3
2.4 First-Aid and Healthcare Providers 3
3.0 HAZARD ASSESSMENT 4
4.0 CONTROL STRATEGIES 4
4.1 Strategies 4
4.2 Work/Rest Regimens 5
5.0 PLAN PREPARATION 8
6.0 TRAINING 8
7.0 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY 9
8.0 REFERENCES 10
9.0 ATTACHMENTS 10
PURPOSE
This practice defines the requirements for the management of work in severe heat in order to protect employees from the effects of heat stress.
SCOPE
This practice includes the following major sections:
· General Requirements
· Responsibilities
· Hazard Assessment
· Control Strategies
· Plan Preparation
· Training
· Confined Space Entry
APPLICATION
This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of P2S and its contractors.
DEFINITIONS
Acclimatization – Is the gradual adapting of the human body to cope with higher heat exposure. Acclimatization occurs over a period of approximately 2weeks but may be lost within 1week of removal of the heat exposure. There can be a noticeable decrease in acclimatization over a weekend off work.
Heat Stress – The general term that describes a variety of symptoms produced when the human body is exposed to a combination of heat and work that interferes with the body’s ability to dissipate the heat energy. Heat stress is a function of total heat load and includes the level of activity and environmental conditions.
Heat Rash – Often referred to as “prickly heat”. This skin rash is caused by excess sweating or the skin being wet with sweat. The rash usually disappears with acclimatization or removal from heat.
Heat Stroke – This is a serious, life-threatening medical condition. The person has a temperature in excess of 104 degreesF (40 degrees C), sweating often stops, the skin is hot, pulse is rapid, there may be dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, and visual disturbances. The person may be aggressive and irrational and convulsing. Urgent medical attention must be sought.
Heat Exhaustion – Heat exhaustion may take many days to develop and be characterized by a progressive decline in work performance; lack of appetite; headache; cold, clammy, pale skin; rapid, weak pulse; nausea; and vomiting. The person may collapse.
Heat Cramp – There are painful muscle cramps of the limbs and/or abdomen, muscle twitching, tingling, or pins and needles in the hands and feet. The person may experience tiredness and nausea. The symptoms may be due to a salt imbalance.
1.0 GENERAL
Heat stress generally describes the effect of heat, from any source, on the organs of the body and the person as a whole. The stresses of heat on the body manifest themselves in 5common ailments:
· Heat exhaustion
· Heat cramps
· Heat stroke
· Heat syncope
· Heat rash.
When heat levels become higher than 95 degreesF (35 degreesC) for whatever reason (natural weather conditions or mechanical heat sources), a plan must be developed and implemented such that employees do not develop heat-related illnesses. This plan can be a stand-alone document or a section in the job safety analysis (JSA).
Different parts of the country and world have different environmental conditions that must be considered when developing the plan.
2.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
2.1 Site/Project Managers
Site/Project Managers are responsible for compliance with this practice. Managers, both P2S and contractor, share concurrent responsibility with HSE and occupational healthcare providers to develop the plan to avoid heat-related illnesses.
2.2 Supervisors
When and where there is a potential for heat stress to occur, supervisors are responsible for communicating the plan/process to employees. Supervisors will implement the plan to avoid heat-related illnesses; this will include, but not be limited to, conducting an assessment of tasks in order to identify possible work practices or environments that have the potential to cause heat stress.
Supervisor, and team leaders, must continually monitor their employees and instruct them to comply with plan elements.
2.3 Employees
Employees are expected to respond to work instructions. There should be no unilateral cessation of work.
2.4 First-Aid and Healthcare Providers
Healthcare professionals will monitor employees and report to the HSE Representative all cases that involve, or are suspected of involving, occupational heat-related illnesses. An emergency plan for handling heat-related illness must be developed by healthcare professionals and implemented as required.
3.0 HAZARD ASSESSMENT
An assessment of tasks will be undertaken in order to identify possible work practices or environments that have the potential to cause heat stress. Potential heat stress situations include, but are not limited to:
· Working close to furnaces, ovens, etc.
· Working outside in hot climate conditions.
· Heavy physical work when wearing occlusive protective clothing such as acid suits and disposable overalls.
· Working in confined spaces where there may be reduced air movement, high humidity increased workload, and higher temperatures.
· Working in close proximity of uninsulated metal wall or roof cladding.
4.0 CONTROL STRATEGIES
4.1 Strategies
When working in heat, employees must take appropriate precautions for themselves and those working around or adjacent to them. Strategies to control or minimize the effects of working in heat include the following:
· Obtain long-range weather forecasts and regularly update the forecasts to provide the maximum possible warning period of inclement weather conditions.
· Consider earlier starting and finishing times to avoid the hottest part of the day.
· Program heavy, physical work for the early or cooler times of the day.
· Identify hot spots or areas of work to be avoided during extreme heat.
· Re-program work in hot spots to another time of the day or to another day.
· Hold toolbox meetings, training programs, and HSE meetings in cool areas or airconditioned areas at the hottest part of the day.
· Alternate work crews to provide rest periods.
· Provide regular rest periods at intervals appropriate to the work conditions in cool, shaded, or air-conditioned environments.
· Provide ample cool drinking water at the work location.
· Consider drinks with electrolyte replacement available at the work location.
Note: It must be stressed to employees working in heat that excessive use of such drinks may be detrimental to their health.
· Consider engineering factors to prevent heat stress, such as increasing air movement, shielding sources of radiant heat, and insulating hot areas.
· Mechanize the task.
· Review the potential impacts of protective clothing.
· Provide regular rest periods and strictly adhere to schedule appropriate to the work conditions and in cool/shaded or air-conditioned environments.
· Change working hours to avoid peak heat-load periods.
· Provide suitable mineral and electrolyte replacements at the first-aid facility. However, it must be stressed to employees working in heat that excessive use of such drinks may be detrimental to their health.
Note: Salt tablets are not recommended.
· Provide additional personal protective equipment (PPE). Items of PPE that may be of benefit are:
- A hat to protect face, neck, and ears. Where practicable, hard hats should be fitted with broad brims and neck flaps.
- Sunscreens should be selected in accordance with the skin type and working conditions of the user. In general, sunscreens should be 30+ SPF broad spectrum water-resistant types.
- Eye protection should be provided through the use of glasses that provide adequate UV and impact protection.
Note: PPE will be used as a control measure only where other measures are impracticable or inadequate.
· Reduce heat source (such as install shaded areas, cooling fans, and insulation).
When working in heat, employees must take appropriate precautions for themselves and those working around or adjacent to them.
4.2 Work/Rest Regimens
Heat stress is dependent on the activity level and the environment around the employee. Specialized help to assess the risk must be consulted when radiant heat is a major contributor. When no radiant heat is present, the following can be used as guidance for the maximum exposure time to high temperature.
Estimate the activity level with the aid of Table 1. Read the maximum exposure temperature (wet temperature) in Table 2 — this is the maximum exposure temperature at 100percent humidity. Usually the humidity is lower, more heat can be removed by sweating, and a higher dry temperature is allowed. This dry temperature is the temperature normally referenced and can be derived from the wet temperature and the relative humidity with the aid of Chart 3.
Table 1 – Activity Level
# / Class description / Example0 / Resting / Resting
1 / Low activity rate / Sitting at ease: light manual work (writing, typing, drawing, sewing, book-keeping); hand and arm work (small bench tools, inspection, assembly or sorting of light materials; arm and leg work (driving vehicle in normal conditions, operating foot switch or pedal).
Standing: drill (small parts); milling machine (small parts); coil winding; small armature winding; machining with low power tools; casual walking (speed up to 2.2 mph [3.5 km/h]
2 / Moderate activity rate / Sustained hand and arm work (hammering in nails, filling); arm and leg work (off-road operation of lorries, tractors ,or field execution equipment); arm and trunk work (work with pneumatic hammer, tractor assembly, plastering, intermittent handling of moderately heavy material, weeding, hoeing, picking fruit or vegetables); pushing or pulling light weight carts or wheelbarrows; walking at a speed of 2.2 to 3.4 mph (3.5 to 5.5 km/h) forging
3 / High activity rate / Intense arm and trunk work; carrying heavy material; shoveling; sledge hammer work; sawing, planning, or chiseling hard wood; hand mowing; digging; walking at a speed of 3.4 to 4.3 mph (5.5 to 7 km/h)
Pushing or pulling heavily loaded handcarts or wheelbarrows; chipping castings; concrete block laying
4 / Very high activity rate / Very intense activity at fast to maximum pace; working with an axe; intense shoveling or digging; climbing stairs, running, walking at a speed greater than 4.3 mph (7 km/h)
Table 2 – Maximum Exposure Temperatures (wet temperature at 100% humidity)
# / Class description / Maximum exposure temperature (°F / °C, wet at 100% humidity)Person acclimatized to heat / Person not acclimatized to heat
0 / Resting / 91 °F/33 °C / 90 °F/32 °C
1 / Low activity rate / 86 °F/30 °C / 84 °F/29 °C
2 / Moderate activity rate / 82 °F/28 °C / 79 °F/26 °C
3 / High activity rate / No sensible air movement
77 °F/25 °C / Sensible air movement
79 °F/26 °C / No sensible air movement
72 °F/22 °C / Sensible air movement
73 °F/23 °C
4 / Very high activity rate / 73 °F/23 °C / 77 °F/25 °C / 64 °F/18 °C / 68 °F/20 °C
Chart 3 – Conversion Wet Temperature to Dry Temperature
Example: What is the corresponding dry temperature for 30 ºC (wet) when humidity is at 60 percent?
Look up the top curved line with the indication 100 percent.
Find 30 ºC.
Follow the straight line towards the right-hand bottom corner till curved line indicating 60 percent is met.
Follow the vertical line to the bottom of the chart.
Read the temperature (= 37 ºC).
Note: ºC = (ºF x 5/9) –32
ºF = (ºC x 9/5) + 32
5.0 PLAN PREPARATION
The plan should contain the following:
· Conditions in the workplace that are based upon environmental factors including ambient temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and thermal radiation.
Note: Document results of measurements on Form 000.653.F0283 (Heat Stress/WBGT Monitoring Log) or similar.
· On the basis of temperatures measured, a ratio of work time versus rest periods, with work periods decreasing while rest periods increase as temperature/humidity rises.
· A medical monitoring regimen for those employees exposed to heat stress, especially those who are likely to be susceptible to heat stress (the obese, unacclimatized with cardio circulatory diseases, and employees who may be taking medications or using alcohol heavily).
· A process for handling heat stroke and severe heat exhaustion (heat-related medical emergencies)
· Training to include dietary needs, water consumption, and avoidance of alcohol.
An example plan is provided in Attachment 01.
6.0 TRAINING
Supervisors and their employees who are potentially exposed to heat stress-inducing conditions must receive training to include the following topics:
· Physiological aspects of heat stress
· Causes of heat related illness:
- High air temperature/humidity
- Lack of air movement
- Radiant heat
- Lack of fluids
- Lack of acclimatization
- High rate of physical activity
· Symptoms of heat stress
- Heat stress – tiredness, irritability, cramps, cool clammy skin, profuse sweating
- Heat stroke – headache, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, irritability, confusion, dry skin, flushed, increased body temperature
· Influence of radiated, convected, and metabolic heat; air movement; clothing; and work rates
· Importance of fluid intake
· Detrimental effects of alcohol
· Work/rest regimens
· Control strategies
· Measures for the prevention of heat-related illness are as follows:
- Drink approximately 2-3 gallons (8-11 liters) of water per day.
- Schedule physical work during cooler periods of the day.
- Avoid alcohol and excessive sugar drinks.
- Regular rest breaks.
- Wear appropriate clothing.
- Protect from direct sun.
- Acclimatization.
Supervisors must receive training on identifying heat-related illness as follow:
· Remove the affected employee to a cool area as soon as possible.
· Seek medical or paramedic assistance.
· Attempt to cool the body by means of water.
· Where possible give the affected employee water to drink.
First-aid providers must receive specific training in the recognition, treatment, and management of heat stress victims.