Information Provided by Rob Roloson, AGC Safety Management Consultant
As we head into late spring/early summer, it’s a good time to review some safety tips for working in the heat. Temperatures in Oregon have already hit the mid 80’s in some locations and the combination of hot weather and intense labor puts many construction industry employees at risk for heat related illness.
The Oregon OSHA Heat Illness Prevention rule went into effect in 2022 and applies when the outside ambient air temperature (or heat index) reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or more. It also applies indoors if the ambient temperature outside increases the indoor temperature to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional information regarding applicability can be found in the Oregon OSHA Frequently Asked Questions publication.
The rule requires a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan that covers the following topics:
- Training: Employees must be trained annually before beginning work that exposes them to the risk of heat illness.
- Signs and Symptoms: How to recognize the symptoms of dehydration and how to respond to suspected heat-related illness in others.
- Water: When the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, ensure that each employee is supplied with 32 ounces of cold/cool water per hour for the duration of their shift.
- Rest: When the heat index exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, a rest break schedule must be implemented according to your company’s written plan.
- Shade: When the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, establish and maintain one or more shade areas that are immediately and readily available to exposed employees. The shade area must be open on at least three sides or be mechanically cooled.
- Acclimatization: New employees or those returning to work must be acclimated to the heat.
Many of my members present this topic in daily safety meetings and toolbox talks. If you are thorough about the information that you cover in these meetings and have employees sign off on the training, you may be able to fulfill the Oregon OSHA annual training requirement. Be sure that training covers the following topics:
- Environmental and personal risk factors
- Employer procedures
- Water consumption
- Acclimatization procedures
- Types of heat illnesses, signs and symptoms, and first aid procedures
- Reporting heat-related illnesses
- Non-occupational risk factors
Document your training! Have employees sign a roster. This documentation must be kept for at least one year or until more recent training has been given.
As an Oregonian, I am not convinced that we have seen the last of the rain, but there is no time like the present to get your employees trained on the hazards of heat exposure and the procedures that your company has in place to protect them.