caltech heat illness prevention program
DESCRIPTION
Caltech Heat Illness Prevention Program. Caltech Environment, Health, and Safety Office. 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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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