Record-high forecasts no longer capture the attention they once did as they have become the status quo. Week after week, we seemingly set a new record for heat in various parts of the U.S. and beyond. In fact, just last week, Monday, July 22, 2024 set the official record for the hottest day on record as shown below:
As a follow-up to Heat Action Day earlier this summer, it is important to continue to raise awareness of heat risks and offer reminders of how to stay safe in the dog days of summer with extreme temperatures at play.
Number 1 Rule: Drink Plenty of Water
We don’t consume enough water throughout the day, regardless of the time of year. Taking the time to plan for your hydration will go a long way to beat the heat. Heat stress occurs when the body cannot rid itself of excess heat. The body’s core temperature rises, and the heart rate increases. The body continues to store this heat, and the individual can begin to display symptoms including loss of concentration, difficulty focusing, irritability or physical sickness, and fainting.
Heat stress can even lead to death in extreme cases. When employees are busy and focusing on the immediate tasks at hand, they tend to not drink enough water throughout the day. This is especially dangerous in hot and humid conditions.
For those who enjoy number crunching, there are about 326 quintillion gallons of water on Earth. If you like conversions, 326 quintillion gallons when converted to liters includes 19 zeros (1,260,000,000,000,000,000,000). Less than 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater. More than two-thirds of this is locked in ice caps and glaciers. Additionally, 2.5% of the Earth’s fresh water is unavailable because it’s too far underground, polluted, or locked in the atmosphere, soil, or glaciers. Even so, on average, each person on Earth has access to about 2.2 million gallons of usable fresh water, which means we just have to find the time to get that water into our body.
A good rule of thumb is if you expecting to be outdoors with any sort of activity, drink a least a half-liter of fluids two hours before venturing outside and about 200 ml every 20 minutes while outdoors.
OSHA Update
Employees who are exposed to extreme heat, both indoor and outdoor, will need to take extra precautions to help prevent heat stress. The proposed heat standard (important to note, the official update was provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on July 2, 2024), applies to all employers.
This standard is triggered when employees are exposed to heat indexes of 80º F, defined as the “initial heat trigger”, for more than fifteen minutes in any sixty-minute period. Employers with outdoor work sites would be required to monitor the temperature with “sufficient frequency to determine with reasonable accuracy employees’ exposure to heat.” For indoor work sites, employers would identify areas where the heat index could be 80º F or more and include a temperature “monitoring plan” in their written Heat Injury & Illness Prevention Plan (HIIPP).
The proposal includes additional provisions, e.g., additional breaks, an observation/buddy system to monitor workers for signs of heat illness, and additional training that would apply at the “high heat trigger” of a heat index of 90ºF. Employers would be required to monitor temperatures to determine when the high heat trigger is met.
The proposed rule sets forth a written HIIPP requirement for all employers with more than ten employees would include the following;
- A comprehensive list of the types of work activities covered by the HIPP
- A description of how the employer complies with the OSHA standard
- Means with which the employer will monitor temperatures
- Emergency phone numbers and procedures employees must follow when an employee experiences signs and symptoms of a heat-related illness
- A list of the “Heat Safety Coordinators” with “authority to ensure compliance with all aspects of the HIIPP.”
Employers would be required to “review and evaluate the effectiveness” of the HIIPP whenever a recordable heat illness occurs and update the HIIPP “as necessary.” This means that a review would be performed any time an employee receives medical treatment, such as an IV, or misses a day of work due to overexposure to heat.
Be Pro-Active
In extreme working conditions, sometimes your body’s natural cooling system simply is not enough. If performing strenuous tasks in the heat, be mindful of your physical limitations, as everyone has different levels of conditioning. The best defense is a good offense; use common sense and be pro-active. This can include such measures as:
- Wear loose, light-colored clothing made from cotton or linen and a breathable hat
- Seek shade whenever possible, especially during breaks and if you feel you are getting overheated
- Take frequent and longer breaks in high temperatures
- Stay hydrated which often times means drinking fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty
- Familiarize yourself with weather trends and keep your eye on the weather conditions throughout the day
- Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 or higher
- Notify a coworker to help you evaluate any additional medical care you may need
Safeguarding Your Success
For most of the country, the warmest day of the year can typically be found sometime between mid-July and late-August. For the millions subject to this extreme heat, be mindful of the conditions that you are working in and around and be on the look out for your co-workers. Remember to take simple steps to prepare for the day’s work ahead and continue to provide your body with the hydration it needs while working in the heat, along with other preventative measures available.
Please contact Dana Vorholt, Sentinel’s Director of Risk Engineering, with any questions or comments you might have regarding the new Heat Standard being proposed and visit the Sentinel Risk Performance Group website for additional resources.
