Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including winter weather related hazards, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them.

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CDC Report: Cold Kills More People Than Heat

A report by the National Center for Health Statistics reveals that winter cold kills more Americans than summer heat. Each year, approximately 2,000 people die due to weather-related causes. Of that population, 63% of deaths are caused by exposure to cold and/or hypothermia, while only 31% are attributed to heat-related exposure such as heat or sun stroke.

Chart: Death rates for weather-related mortality, by age: U.S., 2006–2010 (CDC)

Types of Cold Stress

Like heat stress, employees affected by cold stress require medical attention.  The CDC has identified the following types of cold stress:

• Hypothermia Occurs when the body is losing more heat than it can produce. An affected worker may shiver and seem tired or confused. As the condition worsens, shivering may stop. The worker’s pulse and breathing may slow, and his or her skin may become blue.
• Frostbite Occurs when body parts actually freeze. Often affects fingers, toes, nose, ears, chin and cheeks. The affected area may become pale or blueish and may be numb or tingly.
• Trench Foot Caused by prolonged exposure to moisture and cold, but not freezing, temperatures. The worker may experience numbness, tingling or redness. Blisters or bleeding may occur. Severe cases may lead to gangrene.
• Chilblains Caused by repeated exposure to cool temperatures above freezing. This condition affects the same body parts as frostbite. The affected area may be red and itchy. Blisters or ulcers may develop.

Types of Jobs at Risk for Cold Exposure:

• Airport ground personnel
• Athletes, especially on sidelines
• Auto repair and fueling
• Bus and taxi driving
• Construction and demolition
• Crossing guards
• Dairy farming
• Fishing and diving
• Ice making
• Logging
• Maritime
• Meat packing, fresh and frozen food
• Mining, oil, and gas drilling
• Police, fire, and emergency responders
• Postal and other delivery
• Pulp and paper
• Railroad and trucking
• Road repair
• Ski resorts and other outdoor recreation
• Snow and trash removal
• Utility repair

OSHA Cold Stress Card

OSHA’s cold stress card can serve as a reference guide to combat and prevent sickness or injuries related to cold weather. The reference card has some helpful tips:

• (OSHA 3156 – 2014) – English: PDF
• (OSHA 3158 – 2015) – Spanish: PDF

Cold Weather Personal Protective Clothing & Equipment

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. Dressing properly for the cold depends on how long you’ll be outside, whether the conditions are wet or dry and how cold the temperature is. According to OSHA, wearing three layers provides the best protection for extended winter exposure.

When cold environments or temperatures cannot be avoided, the following cold-weather protective clothing and equipment helps protect workers against cold stress:

• Clothing: Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
  • An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic (polypropylene) to keep moisture away from the body. Thermal wear, wool, silk or polypropylene, inner layers of clothing that will hold more body heat than cotton.
  • A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
  • An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
  • Clothing (Loose fitting) – Tight clothing reduces blood circulation. Warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities.
• Face Covering: Knit mask to cover face and mouth (if needed).
• Head Covering: When it’s cold out, protecting your head is very important. A hat shields your ears from the cold and retains heat. The combination of a hat and headband or ear muffs will often work better than a hat alone because hats can easily rise up off the ears as workers move around.
• Gloves: No matter your job, if you’re working outdoors in cold weather, you should most definitely be wearing some sort of gloves, if not to protect your hands from your work, to protect them from the cold-related ailments such as frostbite.
• Socks: Wearing one or two pairs of thick socks is recommended if you want to protect your shoes. Having extra socks are preferred because socks tend to get damp during the day. The outer sock should be a larger size than the inner sock, to avoid extra compression.
• Footwear: Workers in cold weather also need to wear proper footwear protection. When the work involves walking in water, waterproof boots must be worn. Leather boots can be treated and waterproofed with special products that do not block the pores in the boot surface. The best-suited shoes are leather-topped boots with removable felt insoles.
• Worker Visibility: It’s important to make yourself visible during all seasons, but wearing reflective gear is especially critical in the winter months, as the hours of daylight are shortened. Since it’s likely you’ll be working in the dark, consider investing in reflective gear with electronic light-up features. Flip them on to be sure you’re seen at all times.

Additional Resources:

Cold Stress QuickCard Revised

• (OSHA 3156 – 2014) (English: PDF)
• (OSHA 3158 – 2015) (Spanish: PDF)

Snow Removal: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces

• (OSHA 3513 – 2012) (English: HTML PDF)

OSHA Federal Regulations for PPE

This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Register notices (rules and proposed rules), directives (instruction to OSHA staff), and letters of interpretation (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to PPE.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.94, Ventilation [related topic page]
• 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure [related topic page]
• 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response [related topic page]
• 1910.132, General requirements (Personal protective equipment)
• 1910.133, Eye and face protection [related topic page]
• 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
• 1910.135, Head protection
• 1910.136, Foot protection
• 1910.137, Electrical protective equipment
• 1910.138, Hand protection
• 1910.140, Personal fall protection systems
• 1910 Subpart I – Appendix A, References for further information (Non-mandatory)
• 1910 Subpart I – Appendix B, Non-mandatory compliance guidelines for hazard assessment and personal protective equipment selection
• 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces [related topic page]
• 1910.252, General requirements (Welding, cutting, and brazing) [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

• 1917 Subpart E, Personal protection

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

• 1918 Subpart J, Personal protective equipment

Workers in cold weather can be exposed to serious health problems such as hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot. In certain instances, workers exposed to severe weather without personal protection equipment can also suffer shock that could lead to death.

Cold Stress Safety Tips for Workers

• Your employer should ensure that you know the symptoms of cold stress.
• Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
• Dress properly for the cold.
• Stay dry in the cold because moisture or dampness, e.g. from sweating, can increase the rate of heat loss from the body.
• Keep extra clothing (including underwear) handy in case you get wet and need to change.
• Drink warm sweetened fluids (no alcohol).
• Use proper engineering controls, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by your employer.

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How cold is too cold?

What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Whenever temperatures drop below normal and wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly.

Wind chill is the temperature your body feels when air temperature and wind speed are combined. For example, when the air temperature is 40°F, and the wind speed is 35 mph, the effect on the exposed skin is as if the air temperature was 28°F.

Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems, and may cause tissue damage, and possibly death.

What are the risk factors that contribute to cold stress?

Some of the risk factors that contribute to cold stress are:

• Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion;
• Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes;
• Poor physical conditioning.

How does the body react to cold conditions?

In a cold environment, most of the body’s energy is used to keep the internal core temperature warm. Over time, the body will begin to shift blood flow from the extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs) and outer skin to the core (chest and abdomen). This shift allows the exposed skin and the extremities to cool rapidly and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Combine this scenario with exposure to a wet environment, and trench foot may also be a problem.

What are the most common cold induced illnesses/injuries?

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Trench Foot

Hypothermia

What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

• Mild symptoms:
  • An exposed worker is alert.
  • He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in order to generate heat.
• Moderate to Severe symptoms:
  • As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop.
  • The worker may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, become confused and disoriented
  • He or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.

What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Move the person to a warm, dry area.
• Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face.
• If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:
  • Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person.
  • Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming instructions.
• If a person is not breathing or has no pulse:
  • Call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately.
  • Treat the worker as per instructions for hypothermia, but be very careful and do not try to give an unconscious person fluids.
  • Check him/her for signs of breathing and for a pulse. Check for 60 seconds.
  • If after 60 seconds the affected worker is not breathing and does not have a pulse, trained workers may start rescue breaths for 3 minutes.
  • Recheck for breathing and pulse, check for 60 seconds.
  • If the worker is still not breathing and has no pulse, continue rescue breathing.
  • Only start chest compressions per the direction of the 911 operator or emergency medical services^*
  • Reassess patient’s physical status periodically.

^*Chest compression are recommended only if the patient will not receive medical care within 3 hours.

Frostbite

What is frostbite?
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

• Reddened skin develops gray/white patches.
• Numbness in the affected part.
• Feels firm or hard.
• Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?

• Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
• Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
• Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
• Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
• Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
• Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.

Trench Foot

What is immersion/trench foot?
Trench Foot or immersion foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. It can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if the feet are constantly wet. Non-freezing injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25-times faster than dry feet. To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products.

What are the symptoms of trench foot?

• Redness of the skin, swelling, numbness, blisters

What can be done for a person suffering from immersion foot?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Remove the shoes, or boots, and wet socks.
• Dry the feet.

How can cold stress be prevented?

Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970). Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.

Employers should train workers on how to prevent and recognize cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on the appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment and work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress.

Employers should provide engineering controls. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workers in outdoor security stations. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.

Employers should use safe work practices. For example, it is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers therefore, can provide plenty of warm sweetened liquids to workers.  Avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmer part of the day. Employers can assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system), so that they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers can be allowed to interrupt their work, if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas.

Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work, by gradually increasing their workload, and allowing more frequent breaks in warm areas, as they build up a tolerance for working in the cold environment. Safety measures, such as these, should be incorporated into the relevant health and safety plan for the workplace.

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. The following are recommendations for working in cold environments:

• Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight fitting clothing.
  • An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body.
  • A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
  • An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
• Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
• Use a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed).
• Use insulated gloves to protect the hands (water resistant if necessary).
• Wear insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear).

NIOSH – Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress

Learn all about working in the cold with these National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fast Facts: PDF Link: View & Print

Additional Cold Stress Resources

Cold Stress. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

OSHA Rules
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards. In addition, pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Emergency Preparedness Guides do not and cannot enlarge or diminish an employer’s obligations under the OSH Act.

A winter weather emergency policy should be part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness program that gives employees guidelines on what to expect during severe weather events.

The policy should clearly lay out the roles and responsibility of the people who prepare the company for bad weather, which would include notifying employees, setting up automated messages, alerting customers and establishing virtual access to the office.

Your unique business operations will drive what’s needed in your inclement weather policy.

For example, a hospital must have appropriate medical staff on site – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A retail bank, with operating hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will have totally different staffing requirements.

Regardless of such policies, you’ll need to be prepared ahead of time and also follow federal, state and local rules and regulations.

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Have a Plan of Action

First, determine what severity of winter weather will be the cutoff for your organization. Is it a certain amount of snow or ice, is it when city officials announce unsafe travel conditions, or is it when city schools are closed?

Also, be explicit in your weather policy and include expectations about what employees should do in different scenarios.

Bad-weather policies should include what is expected from an employee in case bad weather results in unsafe travel conditions or school closures, which often impacts employee attendance.

The policy should determine if work can be completed from home and clearly communicate when an employee can expect to receive an email or phone call on business closure.

Most importantly, the policy should clearly lay out the roles and responsibility of the people who prepare the company for bad weather, which would include notifying employees, setting up automated messages, alerting customers and establishing virtual access to the office

Remember the Law

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) dictates whether a company is obligated to pay employees if the business is closed due to inclement weather.

Under the FLSA, employers are not required to pay non-exempt employees for time in which no work was performed. Some states, however, have “report-in pay” laws, which say some non-exempt employees must be paid if they make it to work and are later sent home.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

A workplace emergency is a serious situation that threatens workers, customers, or the public; disrupts or shuts down operations; or causes physical or environmental damage.

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by particular OSHA standards. [29 CFR 1910.38(a)] The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies.

Well developed emergency plans and proper employee training (such that employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the plan) will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the facility during emergencies.

A poorly prepared plan, likely will lead to a disorganized evacuation or emergency response, resulting in confusion, injury, and property damage.

To view OSHA’s EAP Checklist, click HERE.

What type of training do workers need?

• Educate workers about the types of emergencies that may occur and train them in the proper course of action. The size of the workplace and workforce, processes used, materials handled, and the availability of on-site or outside resources will determine the specific training requirements.
• Ensure that all workers understand the function and elements of the emergency action plan, including types of potential emergencies, reporting procedures, alarm systems, evacuation plans, and shutdown procedures.
• Discuss any special hazards on site such as flammable materials, toxic chemicals, radioactive sources, or water-reactive substances.
• Identify and communicate to workers specifically who will be in charge during an emergency to minimize confusion.

Topics for worker emergency training:

• Individual roles and responsibilities;
• Threats, hazards, and protective actions;
• Notification, warning, and communications procedures;
• Means for contacting family members in an emergency;
• Any special tasks that workers may be called upon to perform during an emergency (if applicable);
• Evacuation, shelter, and accountability procedures;
• Location and use of common emergency equipment;
• Who is authorized to perform emergency shutdown procedures (if any);
• First-aid procedures;
• Protection against bloodborne pathogens (also see the Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030);
• Respiratory protection (also see the Respiratory Protection standards, 29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1926.103); and
• Methods for preventing unauthorized access to the site.

How often to train workers?

Review the plan with all workers and consider requiring annual training on the plan. Also conduct training after:

• Development of the initial plan;
• Hiring of new workers;
• Introduction of new equipment, materials, or processes into the workplace that affect evacuation routes;
• Reassignment of workers or changing their job duties;
• Change of layout or design of the facility; and
• Revision or updating of emergency procedures.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Department of Labor: General Business Preparedness
• OSHA: Emergency Action Plans – Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool
• OSHA: How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (PDF)

Know Your Rights. Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace and your employer is responsible for your safety.

According to the OSHA pamphlet, falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities among workers who remove ice and snow from rooftops and other structures. Workers can fall off roof edges, through skylights, and from ladders and aerial lifts and a roof collapse can also hurt or fatally injure workers.

Other hazards include frostbite and hypothermia; back injuries from slips, trips, falls or overexertion; falling ice; shock or electrocution from power lines or extension cords; and aerial lift collapses or tip-overs.

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Snow Removal – Before Work Begins

• Plan ahead for safe snow removal from roofs.
• Check the worksite for workplace hazards.
• ƒLimit, when and where possible, workers going on roofs to remove snow.
• ƒUse snow removal procedures that lower the risk of roof or structure collapse.
• ƒEnsure that workers follow all manufacturers’ instructions for using mechanical equipment safely.

Snow Removal – Employer Responsibilities

According to federal law,  a worker has the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.
• Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary you understand) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.

Before any work begins, employers must:

• Train workers to identify fall and electrical hazards.
• Train workers on appropriate protective equipment, fall prevention, and electrical standards. See 29 CFR 1910 Subparts D, F, I and S.
• Provide fall protection equipment (29 CFR 1910.23 – Ladders, 1926.501 – Fall Protection) that is in good working condition.
• Train workers to use ladders, aerial lifts and protective equipment, per manufacturers’ guidelines.
• Have a plan for rescuing a worker caught by a fall protection system.

Snow Removal: Know the Hazards – Pamphlet

(OSHA 3966 – 2019) (English: PDF)

Cold Stress Safety Tips for Workers

When cold environments cannot be avoided, workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from cold stress:

• Wear appropriate clothing.
  • Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
  • Tight clothing reduces blood circulation. Warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities.
  • When choosing clothing, be aware that some clothing may restrict movement resulting in a hazardous situation.
• Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather.
  • Boots should be waterproof and insulated.
  • Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer. (Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.)
• Move into warm locations during work breaks; limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.
• Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid.
• Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
• Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
• Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.

What are the most common cold induced illnesses/injuries?

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Trench Foot

Some of the risk factors that contribute to cold stress are:

• • Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion;
  • Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes;
  • Poor physical conditioning.

Hypothermia

What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

• Mild symptoms:
  • An exposed worker is alert.
  • He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in order to generate heat.
• Moderate to Severe symptoms:
  • As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop.
  • The worker may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, become confused and disoriented
  • He or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.

What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Move the person to a warm, dry area.
• Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face.
• If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:
  • Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person.
  • Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming instructions.
• If a person is not breathing or has no pulse:
  • Call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately.
  • Treat the worker as per instructions for hypothermia, but be very careful and do not try to give an unconscious person fluids.
  • Check him/her for signs of breathing and for a pulse. Check for 60 seconds.
  • If after 60 seconds the affected worker is not breathing and does not have a pulse, trained workers may start rescue breaths for 3 minutes.
  • Recheck for breathing and pulse, check for 60 seconds.
  • If the worker is still not breathing and has no pulse, continue rescue breathing.
  • Only start chest compressions per the direction of the 911 operator or emergency medical services^*
  • Reassess patient’s physical status periodically.

^*Chest compression are recommended only if the patient will not receive medical care within 3 hours.

Frostbite

What is frostbite?
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

• Reddened skin develops gray/white patches.
• Numbness in the affected part.
• Feels firm or hard.
• Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?

• Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
• Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
• Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
• Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
• Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
• Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.

Trench Foot

What is immersion/trench foot?
Trench Foot or immersion foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. It can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if the feet are constantly wet. Non-freezing injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25-times faster than dry feet. To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products.

What are the symptoms of trench foot?

• Redness of the skin, swelling, numbness, blisters

What can be done for a person suffering from immersion foot?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Remove the shoes, or boots, and wet socks.
• Dry the feet.

Wind Chill Temperatures

Wind Chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss from the human body, resulting from the combined effect of low air temperature, and wind speed. The Wind Chill Temperature is a single value that takes both air temperature, and wind speed into account. For example, when the air temperature is 40°F, and the wind speed is 35mph, the wind chill temperature is 28°F; this measurement is the actual effect of the environmental cold on the exposed skin.

National Weather Service (NWS) Wind Chill Calculator: With this tool, one may input the air temperature and wind speed, and it will calculate the wind chill temperature.

Dressing Properly for Extreme Cold

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. The following are recommendations for working in cold environments:

• Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight fitting clothing.
  • An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body.
  • A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
  • An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
• Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
• Use a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed).
• Use insulated gloves to protect the hands (water resistant if necessary).
• Wear insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear).

Additional Cold Stress Resources

• NIOSH – Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress – Learn all about working in the cold. (PDF)
• Cold Stress. CDC
• Cold Stress QuickCard Revised
  (OSHA 3156 – 2014) (English: PDF )
  (OSHA 3158 – 2015) (Spanish: PDF)
• Snow Removal: Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces
  (OSHA 3513 – 2012) (English: HTML PDF)
• Snow Removal: Know the Hazards Pamphlet NEW
  (OSHA 3966 – 2019) (English: PDF)

Cold stress – or how the body reacts to cold temperatures – is a very real problem during the winter. However, many workers may not know the signs and symptoms of cold stress, including conditions such as hypothermia, frostbite or trench foot. This can be a problem, especially for industries like construction, where many companies are still operating outdoors.

In certain instances, workers exposed to severe weather without personal protection equipment can also suffer shock that could lead to death.

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Cold Stress Safety Tips for Workers

There are many steps employers can take to protect workers from cold stress.

Employers should:

• Schedule maintenance and repair jobs for warmer months. When this is not possible, these jobs should be scheduled for the warmer part of the day.
• Reduce the physical demands of workers by using relief workers or assigning extra workers for long, demanding jobs.
• Provide warm break areas and warm liquids. Monitoring workers who are at risk of cold stress and providing training can also help prevent cold stress illness and injuries.

Workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from cold stress:

• Wear appropriate clothing.
  • Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
  • Tight clothing reduces blood circulation. Warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities.
  • When choosing clothing, be aware that some clothing may restrict movement resulting in a hazardous situation.
• Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather.
  • Boots should be waterproof and insulated.
  • Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer. (Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.)
• Move into warm locations during work breaks; limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.
• Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid.
• Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
• Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
• Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.

How cold is too cold?

What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Whenever temperatures drop below normal and wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly.

Wind chill is the temperature your body feels when air temperature and wind speed are combined. For example, when the air temperature is 40°F, and the wind speed is 35 mph, the effect on the exposed skin is as if the air temperature was 28°F.

Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems, and may cause tissue damage, and possibly death.

What are the risk factors that contribute to cold stress?

Some of the risk factors that contribute to cold stress are:

• Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion;
• Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes;
• Poor physical conditioning.

How does the body react to cold conditions?

In a cold environment, most of the body’s energy is used to keep the internal core temperature warm. Over time, the body will begin to shift blood flow from the extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs) and outer skin to the core (chest and abdomen). This shift allows the exposed skin and the extremities to cool rapidly and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Combine this scenario with exposure to a wet environment, and trench foot may also be a problem.

What are the most common cold induced illnesses/injuries?

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Trench Foot

Hypothermia

What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

• Mild symptoms:
  • An exposed worker is alert.
  • He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in order to generate heat.
• Moderate to Severe symptoms:
  • As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop.
  • The worker may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, become confused and disoriented
  • He or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.

What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Move the person to a warm, dry area.
• Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face.
• If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:
  • Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person.
  • Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming instructions.
• If a person is not breathing or has no pulse:
  • Call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately.
  • Treat the worker as per instructions for hypothermia, but be very careful and do not try to give an unconscious person fluids.
  • Check him/her for signs of breathing and for a pulse. Check for 60 seconds.
  • If after 60 seconds the affected worker is not breathing and does not have a pulse, trained workers may start rescue breaths for 3 minutes.
  • Recheck for breathing and pulse, check for 60 seconds.
  • If the worker is still not breathing and has no pulse, continue rescue breathing.
  • Only start chest compressions per the direction of the 911 operator or emergency medical services.
  • Chest compression are recommended only if the patient will not receive medical care within 3 hours.
  • Reassess patient’s physical status periodically.

Frostbite

What is frostbite?
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

What are the symptoms of frostbite?

• Reddened skin develops gray/white patches.
• Numbness in the affected part.
• Feels firm or hard.
• Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?

• Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
• Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
• Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
• Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
• Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
• Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.

Trench Foot

What is immersion/trench foot?
Trench Foot or immersion foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. It can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if the feet are constantly wet. Non-freezing injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25-times faster than dry feet. To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products.

What are the symptoms of trench foot?

• Redness of the skin, swelling, numbness, blisters

What can be done for a person suffering from immersion foot?

• Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Remove the shoes, or boots, and wet socks.
• Dry the feet.

Responsibilities to Avoid Cold Stress

Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970).

• Employers should train workers on how to prevent and recognize cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on the appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment and work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress.
• Employers should provide engineering controls. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workers in outdoor security stations. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.
• Employers should use safe work practices. For example, it is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers therefore, can provide plenty of warm sweetened liquids to workers.  Avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmer part of the day. Employers can assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system), so that they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers can be allowed to interrupt their work, if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas.

Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work, by gradually increasing their workload, and allowing more frequent breaks in warm areas, as they build up a tolerance for working in the cold environment. Safety measures, such as these, should be incorporated into the relevant health and safety plan for the workplace.

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. The following are recommendations for working in cold environments:

• Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight fitting clothing.
  • An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body.
  • A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
  • An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
• Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
• Use a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed).
• Use insulated gloves to protect the hands (water resistant if necessary).
• Wear insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear).

NIOSH – Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress

Learn all about working in the cold with these National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fast Facts: PDF Link: View & Print

Additional Cold Stress Resources

Cold Stress. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

OSHA Rules
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards. In addition, pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Emergency Preparedness Guides do not and cannot enlarge or diminish an employer’s obligations under the OSH Act.

Know your rights! Under federal law, all employees (temporary and full time) are entitled to a safe workplace and your employer must also provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards.

Likewise, workers with limited or no prior industry experience or a lack of safety training, also contribute to high injury rates. Workers may be at increased risk for injury since they may not have the strength or cognitive ability needed to perform certain job duties.

Employer Role to Protect Temporary Workers

To ensure an employer’s role in protecting employees, OSHA recommends that the temporary staffing agency and the employer set out their respective responsibilities for compliance with applicable OSHA standards in their contract. Including such terms in a contract will ensure that each employer complies with all relevant regulatory requirements, thereby avoiding confusion as to the employer’s obligations.

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Workers Rights

OSHA protects all workers in the United States. Temporary workers have the same rights as permanent workers.

Workers have the right to:

• A safe workplace free of dangers.
• Receive training in clear language that you understand.
• Receive safety equipment.
• Speak up about safety.
• Report work-related injuries without being punished.

OSHA Flyer: Job Safety and Health – It’s the Law (PDF)
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3165-8514.pdf

Both Employers and Staffing Agencies have Safety Roles

Both employers and staffing agencies have roles in complying with workplace health and safety requirements and they share responsibility for ensuring worker safety and health.

A key concept is that each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example: staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment/hazards.

• The key is communication between the agency and the host to ensure that the necessary protections are provided.
• Staffing agencies have a duty to inquire into the conditions of their workers’ assigned workplaces. They must ensure that they are sending workers to a safe workplace.
• Ignorance of hazards is not an excuse.
• Staffing agencies need not become experts on specific workplace hazards, but they should determine what conditions exist at their client (host) agencies, what hazards may be encountered, and how best to ensure protection for the temporary workers.
• The staffing agency has the duty to inquire and verify that the host has fulfilled its responsibilities for a safe workplace.
• And, just as important: Host employers must treat temporary workers like any other workers in terms of training and safety and health protections.

OSHA Temporary Workers Pamphlet

Seasonal Worker Safety Resources

Order Fulfillment

• Warehousing Safety Pocket Guide
• Forklift Safety and Health Topics Page
• Forklift eTool

Delivery

• Trucking Industry Safety and Health Topics Page
• Safety Practices Once Tractor Trailer Drivers Arrive at a Destination
• Winter Weather Plan. Equip. Train.

Retail Sales

• Crowd Management Safety Guidelines for Retailers

General

• Workers’ Rights
• Protecting Temporary/Seasonal Workers

National Construction Appreciation Week is the third week in September and aims to inspire a national conversation about construction and how it vital to American infrastructure and the economy.

Safety on a construction site goes far beyond reducing injuries. It’s about coming together to protect one another, and making sure  everyone gets home safely every night.

Getting Involved

I Build America founded National Construction Appreciation Week to honor the dedicated men and women in the construction industry building America.

I Build America is a national movement focused on building pride in the construction industry, educating the public about the value of construction, and recruiting the next generation of construction professionals.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Post your construction photos on social media using #ThanksForBuilding and #ConstructionAppreciationWeek
• Sharing official Construction Appreciation Week videos, stories and graphics on social media:
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
• Tell those you know in the industry you appreciate their work! It’s a tough job, and everyone deserves encouragement.
• Speak positively about the construction happening in your community. Remember, construction workers strive to make your life better!
• Share a positive construction story that affected your life.

Stickers, apparel, hats, and other products available at the I Build America Store.

Job Site Safety and Health Program

Establishing a safety and health program at your job site is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost—to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover,  and reputation.

Construction work is hazardous work and includes many hazardous task and conditions such as working with height, excavation, noise, dust, power tools and equipment. The most common fatalities are caused by the fatal four: falls, being struck by an object, electrocutions, and being caught in between two objects.

Safety and health programs foster a proactive approach to “finding and fixing” job site hazards before  they can cause injury or illness. Rather than reacting to an incident, management and workers collaborate to identify and solve issues before they occur. Employers will find that implementing recommended practices also brings other benefits. Safety and health programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
• Engage workers
• Enhance their social responsibility goals
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations

National Construction Safety Week

Every year, many construction companies host Safety Week events as a way to refocus and re-energize our commitment to eliminating injuries on jobsites. Help bring Safety Week to life in your company! Download a Safety Week Planning Playbook and get started planning Safety Week Activities.

It is recommended that at least you should cover the most common mechanical industry incidents that often result in injury:

• Fall Prevention and Protection
• Ladder Safety
• Eye Injury Prevention
• Safe Handling of Materials
• Pressure Testing Safety

Construction Safety Education and Training

Construction safety education and training are important tools for informing workers and managers about hazards and controls so they can work more safely and be more productive. Another role of education and training, however, is to provide workers and managers with a greater understanding of the safety and health program itself, so that they can contribute to its development and implementation.

OSHA Training 10hr/30hr - 15% OFF SALE

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• Training provides an overview of OSHA, workplace hazards, workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment on a worksite.
• 10hr only $89 - 30hr only $169!
• Enter Promo Code "osha15offF" at Checkout

Education and training provides employers (owners  and executives), managers, supervisors, and workers with:

• Knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others  at risk.
• Awareness and understanding of hazards and how to identify, report,  and control them.
• Specialized training, when their work involves unique hazards.

Additional training may be needed depending on the roles assigned to employers or individual managers, supervisors, and workers. For example, employers,  managers, and supervisors may need specific training to ensure  that they can fulfill their roles in providing leadership, direction, and resources for the safety and health program.  Workers assigned specific roles in the program (e.g., incident investigation team members) may need training to ensure  their full participation in those  functions.

Effective training and education can be provided outside a formal classroom setting. Peer-to-peer training, on-the-job training, daily toolbox talks, and worksite demonstrations can be effective in conveying safety concepts, ensuring understanding of hazards  and their controls, and promoting good  work practices.

How to Enhance a Safety Training Program

1. Provide program awareness training
   Managers, supervisors, and workers all need to understand the program’s structure, plans, and procedures. Having this knowledge ensures  that everyone can fully participate in developing and implementing the program.
2.  Train employers, managers, and supervisors on their roles in the program
   Employers, managers, and supervisors are responsible for workers’ safety, yet sometimes have little training on safety-related concepts and techniques. They need specific training that allows them to fulfill their leadership roles in the program.
3. Train workers on their specific roles in the safety and health program
   Additional training may be needed to ensure that workers can incorporate safety and health responsibilities into their daily routines and activities.
4. Train workers on hazard identification and controls
   Providing workers with an understanding of hazard  recognition and control, and actively involving them in the process,  can help to eliminate hazards  before  an incident occurs. Employers are required to instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his or her work environment to control or eliminate any hazards  or other  exposure to illness or injury [29 C.F.R. 1926.21(b)(2)].  As a starting point, employers may consider providing the OSHA 10-hour course  for construction or a similar course  to be supplemented by orientation training and toolbox  talks to cover hazards  on each specific site.

More Information:

OSHA Publication – Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction (PDF)

National Construction Safety Week is an emphasis of safe work practices by national and global construction firms. This event takes place each spring to remind construction workers and supervisors how important workplace safety is every week of every year.

Safety on a construction site goes far beyond reducing injuries. It’s about coming together to protect one another, and making sure  everyone gets home safely every night.

Job Site Safety and Health Program

Establishing a safety and health program at your job site is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost—to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover,  and reputation.

Safety and health programs foster a proactive approach to “finding and fixing” job site hazards before  they can cause injury or illness. Rather than reacting to an incident, management and workers collaborate to identify and solve issues before they occur. Employers will find that implementing recommended practices also brings other benefits. Safety and health programs help businesses:

• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
• Improve compliance with laws and regulations
• Reduce costs, including significant reductions in workers’ compensation premiums
• Engage workers
• Enhance their social responsibility goals
• Increase productivity and enhance overall business operations

National Construction Safety Week

Every year, many construction companies host Safety Week events as a way to refocus and re-energize our commitment to eliminating injuries on jobsites. Help bring Safety Week to life in your company! Download a Safety Week Planning Playbook and get started planning Safety Week Activities.

It is recommended that at least you should cover the most common mechanical industry incidents that often result in injury:

• Fall Prevention and Protection
• Ladder Safety
• Eye Injury Prevention
• Safe Handling of Materials
• Pressure Testing Safety

Construction Safety Education and Training

Construction safety education and training are important tools for informing workers and managers about hazards and controls so they can work more safely and be more productive. Another role of education and training, however, is to provide workers and managers with a greater understanding of the safety and health program itself, so that they can contribute to its development and implementation.

OSHA Training 10hr/30hr - 15% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• Training provides an overview of OSHA, workplace hazards, workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment on a worksite.
• 10hr only $89 - 30hr only $169!
• Enter Promo Code "osha15offF" at Checkout

Education and training provides employers (owners  and executives), managers, supervisors, and workers with:

• Knowledge and skills needed to do their work safely and avoid creating hazards that could place themselves or others  at risk.
• Awareness and understanding of hazards and how to identify, report,  and control them.
• Specialized training, when their work involves unique hazards.

Additional training may be needed depending on the roles assigned to employers or individual managers, supervisors, and workers. For example, employers,  managers, and supervisors may need specific training to ensure  that they can fulfill their roles in providing leadership, direction, and resources for the safety and health program.  Workers assigned specific roles in the program (e.g., incident investigation team members) may need training to ensure  their full participation in those  functions.

Effective training and education can be provided outside a formal classroom setting. Peer-to-peer training, on-the-job training, daily toolbox talks, and worksite demonstrations can be effective in conveying safety concepts, ensuring understanding of hazards  and their controls, and promoting good  work practices.

How to Enhance a Safety Training Program

1. Provide program awareness training
   Managers, supervisors, and workers all need to understand the program’s structure, plans, and procedures. Having this knowledge ensures  that everyone can fully participate in developing and implementing the program.
2.  Train employers, managers, and supervisors on their roles in the program
   Employers, managers, and supervisors are responsible for workers’ safety, yet sometimes have little training on safety-related concepts and techniques. They need specific training that allows them to fulfill their leadership roles in the program.
3. Train workers on their specific roles in the safety and health program
   Additional training may be needed to ensure that workers can incorporate safety and health responsibilities into their daily routines and activities.
4. Train workers on hazard identification and controls
   Providing workers with an understanding of hazard  recognition and control, and actively involving them in the process,  can help to eliminate hazards  before  an incident occurs. Employers are required to instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his or her work environment to control or eliminate any hazards  or other  exposure to illness or injury [29 C.F.R. 1926.21(b)(2)].  As a starting point, employers may consider providing the OSHA 10-hour course  for construction or a similar course  to be supplemented by orientation training and toolbox  talks to cover hazards  on each specific site.

More Information:

OSHA Publication – Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction (PDF)

Worker Safety – General Duty Clause

Under the OSH Act of 1970 – General Duty Clause, employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace (which includes heat-related hazards).
Section 5. Duties

• (a) Each employer —
• (1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;

Currently, OSHA inspectors have to rely on a  general requirement to provide a safe workplace when determining whether to cite an employer for heat violations.  But it is not clear how employers can protect workers, be held accountable, or how violations can be reported. OSHA has issued citations against employers because workers were endangered by high heat. But the General Duty Clause carries with it a high burden of proof, which would not be the case with a specific standard.

OSHA Training 10hr/30hr - 15% OFF SALE

More/Enroll

• Training provides an overview of OSHA, workplace hazards, workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment on a worksite.
• 10hr only $89 - 30hr only $169!
• Enter Promo Code "osha15offF" at Checkout

Employer Heat Illness Prevention Program

An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program by:

• Providing workers with water, rest and shade.
• Allowing new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and taking more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or building a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Planning for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
• Monitoring workers for signs of illness.

The different types of heat illness include: heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat rashes, and heat stroke. Heat can also increase workers’ risk of injuries, as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and may reduce brain function responsible for reasoning ability, creating additional hazards.

Recommended Federal Standard Provisions

The report and the petition indicate that a federal standard should:

• Provide mandatory rest breaks with increased frequency in times of extreme heat and significant exertion.
• Provide access to shaded and otherwise cool conditions for employees to rest during breaks.
• Provide personal protective equipment, such as water-cooled and air-cooled garments.
• Make provisions for adequate hydration.
• Implement heat acclimatization plans to help new workers safely adjust to hot conditions.
• Regularly monitor both the environmental heat load and employees’ metabolic heat loads during hot conditions.
• Medically monitor at-risk employees.
• Notify employees of heat stress hazards.
• Institute a heat-alert plan outlining procedures to follow when heat waves are forecast.
• Train workers on heat stress risks and preventive measures.
• Maintain and report records relating to this standard.
• Institute whistleblower protection programs to ensure that employees who witness violations of the heat stress safety standard are free to speak up.

Heat Predictions for Summer

The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) can help decision makers prepare for extreme heat events days, months, and years in the future.

Risk Factors for Heat Illness

Many outdoor workers are in good physical health, but several factors can increase their risk of suffering from heat illness:

• high temperature and humidity
• direct sunlight
• limited air movement (no breeze)
• moderate to heavy exertion
• heavy personal protective equipment
• dehydration
• some medications
• other sources of heat (furnaces, ovens, exhaust)

In some cases, heat-related illness can occur in temperatures as low as the 70°F.

Types of Heat Illness

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies the following five main types of heat illness:

1. Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is considered the most serious heat-related illness, occurring when the body can no longer regulate its temperature. The body temperature quickly rises and the ability cool off by sweating often fails. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability in the absence of emergency treatment.

• Symptoms: Hot, dry skin; hallucinations; chills; throbbing headache; high body temperature; confusion/dizziness; slurred speech.
• First Aid: Call 911 and notify supervisor; move affected worker to shaded area; take steps to cool the individual (spraying with water, fanning).

2. Heat Exhaustion: As a response to excessive loss of water and salt, the body may experience heat exhaustion. Those who are elderly or have high blood pressure are particularly vulnerable.

• Symptoms: Heavy sweating; extreme weakness; dizziness/confusion; nausea; clammy skin; pale complexion; muscle cramps; slightly elevated body temperature; fast, shallow breathing.
• First Aid: Have worker rest in a cool or shaded area; give worker plenty of water and have them take a cool bath, if possible.

3. Heat Syncope

Heat syncope is an episode of dizziness or fainting that can occur with prolonged standing or from suddenly standing from a sitting position. This can occur as a result of dehydration or a lack of acclimatization.

• Symptoms: Light-headedness; dizziness; fainting.
• First Aid: Have affected worker sit in a cool place once they feel symptoms, in addition to slowly drinking water or a sports beverage.

4. Heat Cramps

Heat cramps typically are a result of low salt levels in muscles as a result of excessive sweating. They also may be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

• Symptoms: Muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs.
• First Aid: Stop activity and sit in a cool place; drink clear juice or a sports beverage; abstain from strenuous work for a few hours; seek medical attention if the worker has heart problems or the cramps don’t subside after one hour.

5. Heat Rash

Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating.

• Symptoms: Appears as a red cluster of pimples or small blisters; likely to occur on the neck, upper chest, groin, under the breasts and in elbow creases.
• First Aid: Keep worker in cooler, less humid environment; keep affected area(s) dry; use dusting powder, if available.

Heat Stress – Health and Safety Training

A heat stress training program should be in place for all who work in hot environments and their supervisors. Workers and supervisors should be trained about the prevention and first aid of heat-related illness before they begin work in a hot environment and before heat index levels go up.

Heat prevention training should be reinforced on hot days. Prevention of heat-related illnesses depends on early recognition of the signs and symptoms of impending heat-related illness and initiation of first aid and corrective procedures at the earliest possible moment.

OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide

• A guide for employers to carry out heat safety training, with lesson plans (tailgate or toolbox talks).
• Available in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)

Summary

Many outdoor workers get uncomfortably hot during summer. Employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace – free from unsafe exposure to heat that can result in injuries, disease, reduced productivity, and death.

Heat Safety Resources for Worker and Employers

Supervisors: Preventing heat-related illness in your workers requires a commitment to monitoring daily temperatures, continual awareness of workers’ level of effort, and heat-illness prevention training.

Workers: Learn to recognize signs that you or your coworkers need to cool down. Be ready to seek help if you or your coworkers are disoriented, confused, or slurring speech.

• OSHA’s Heat Health site offers a free smartphone app to help people monitor their risk of heat illness as well as fact sheets and posters in English and Spanish.
• OSHA-NIOSH offers an INFOSHEET (PDF) describing symptoms and treatments for heat illness.
• The Heat Stress Chapter of OSHA’s Technical Manual offers definitions and examples to help supervisors manage heat hazards.

• National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) can help decision makers prepare for extreme heat events days, months, and years in the future.
• Centers for Disease Control – Extreme Heat and Your Health provides information for populations that are vulnerable to high heat, a media toolkit to help spread the word about heat hazards, and other heat-health resources.
• National Weather Service – Heat Safety Site offers heat safety tips and resources for on the job, indoors, outdoors, and in vehicles.
• CDC Guide: Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (PDF)
• UPDATED from NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard – Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments
• Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat Fact Sheet (PDF). OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3743), (August 2014).
• Protecting Workers from Heat Illness (PDF). OSHA-NIOSH Heat Illness Info Sheet, (2011).
• Occupational Heat Exposure. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
• Protecting Yourself From Heat Stress. NIOSH Fast Facts (Publication 2010-114), (April 2010).
• Heat Stress. NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Extreme Heat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Preparedness and Response.
• Beat the Heat: Heat Safety Resources. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service.
• California Campaign to Protect Outdoor Workers From Heat Illness.^*** Cal/OSHA.
• Heat Illness Prevention.^*** Cal/OSHA, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
• Heat Illness Prevention eTool.^*** Cal/OSHA.
• Quick Facts for Employees (PDF) (English and Spanish). Oregon OSHA (QF-008 OR-OSHA).
• Outdoor Heat Exposure (OHE, Heat Stress).^*** Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
• Website and “Don’t Fry Day”. National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP).
• Sun Safety. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Skin Cancer.

Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in extreme heat or humid conditions. More than 40 percent of heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry, but workers in every field are susceptible. There are a range of heat illnesses and they can affect anyone, regardless of age, or physical condition.

OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool

Take precautions against outdoor heat while at work with the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool. Featuring real-time heat index and hourly forecasts, specific to your location, as well as occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH. The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool is a useful resource for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day.  Android | iPhone

Employer Responsibility to Protect Workers

Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.

• Provide workers with water, rest and shade.
• Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
• Monitor workers for signs of illness.

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Types of Workplace Affected by Extreme Heat

Workplaces with these conditions may include iron and steel foundries, nonferrous foundries, brick-firing and ceramic plants, glass products facilities, rubber products factories, electrical utilities (particularly boiler rooms), bakeries, confectioneries, commercial kitchens, laundries, food canneries, chemical plants, mining sites, smelters, and steam tunnels.

Outdoor operations conducted in hot weather and direct sun, such as farm work, construction, oil and gas well operations, asbestos removal, landscaping, emergency response operations, and hazardous waste site activities, also increase the risk of heat-related illness in exposed workers.

OSHA Heat Safety Resources

OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Heat page explains what employers can do to keep workers safe and what workers need to know – including factors for heat illness, adapting to working in indoor and outdoor heat, protecting workers, recognizing symptoms, and first aid training. The page also includes resources for specific industries and OSHA workplace standards. Also look for heat illness educational and training materials on OSHA’s Publications page.

Heat Safety:  Industry-Specific Resources

Employers may find that implementing recommended safety practices brings other benefits as well. The renewed or enhanced commitment to safety and health and the cooperative atmosphere between employers and workers have been linked to:

• Improvements in production and quality.
• Better employee morale.
• Improved employee recruiting and retention.
• A more favorable image and reputation (among customers, suppliers, and the community).

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Case Study: Ohio Worker Compensation Fell with SHARP Program Adoption

A study of small employers in Ohio found that workers’ compensation claims fell dramatically after working with OSHA’s SHARP program to adopt programs similar to those described in these recommended practices.

Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (2011), Ohio 21(d) SHARP Program Performance Assessment.

Nine Easy Things To Get An Employer Safety Program Started

For many small businesses, establishing an injury and illness prevention program may seem daunting. Any program based on formal structures can be difficult to establish in a small organization because of tight budgets. Yet simple, low-cost approaches have been shown to be effective in small businesses.

If these recommended practices appear challenging, here are some simple steps you can take to get started. Completing these steps will give you a solid base from which to take on some of the more structured actions presented in the recommended practices.

1. Always Set Safety And Health As The Top Priority
   Tell your workers that making sure they finish the day and go home safely is the way you do business. Assure them that you will work with them to find and fix any hazards that could injure them or make them sick.
2. Lead By Example
   Practice safe behaviors yourself and make safety part of your daily conversations with workers.
3. Implement A Reporting System
   Develop and communicate a simple procedure for workers to report any injuries, illnesses, incidents (including near misses/close calls), hazards, or safety and health concerns without fear of retaliation. Include an option for reporting hazards or concerns anonymously.
4. Provide Training
   Train workers on how to identify and control hazards with OSHA Outreach 10-hour or 30-hour Training.
5. Conduct Inspections
   Inspect the job site with workers and ask them to identify any activity, piece of equipment, or material that concerns them. Use checklists and other resources, such as OSHA’s Construction Industry Digest, to help identify problems.
6. Collect Hazard Control Ideas
   Talk with workers about ideas on safety improvements throughout the project.
7. Implement Hazard Controls
   Assign workers the task of choosing, implementing, and evaluating the solutions.
8. Address Emergencies
   Identify foreseeable emergency scenarios and develop instructions on what to do in each case. Meet to discuss these procedures and post them in a visiblelocation at the job site.
9. Make Improvements
   Set aside a regular time to discuss safety and health issues, with the goal of identifying ways to improve the program.

More Information:

OSHA: Recommended Practices for Safety & Health Programs in Construction (PDF 40 pps)

When the human body is unable to maintain a normal temperature, heat-related illnesses can occur and may result in death. Likewise, there are a range of heat illnesses and they can affect anyone, regardless of age, or physical condition.

Heat Stress Awareness

Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat.

Heat is the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. (and many countries around the world). The last Friday in May is National Heat Awareness Day – an event established to encourage employers and workers to recognize the warning signs for heat illness and keep workers safe.

The National Weather Service (NWS) just released their Natural Hazard Statistics for 2018, and heat killed more people last year than lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, cold, and winter weather combined.

Likewise, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 815 heat-related worker deaths and 70,000 heat-related serious injuries between 1992 and 2017.

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Employer Responsibility to Protect Workers

Under OSHA law, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.

• Provide workers with water, rest and shade.
• Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
• Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
• Monitor workers for signs of illness.

Factors That Increase Heat Stress Risk to Workers

• High temperature and humidity
• Direct sun exposure (with no shade)
• Indoor exposure to other sources of radiant heat (ovens, furnaces)
• Limited air movement (no breeze)
• Low fluid consumption
• Physical exertion
• Heavy personal protective clothing and equipment
• Poor physical condition or health problems
• Some medications, for example, different kinds of blood pressure pills or antihistamines
• Pregnancy
• Lack of recent exposure to hot working
• Previous heat-related illness
• Advanced age (65+)

Using the Heat Index: A Guide for Employers

Outdoor workers who are exposed to hot and humid conditions are at risk of heat-related illness. The risk of heat-related illness becomes greater as the weather gets hotter and more humid. This situation is particularly serious when hot weather arrives suddenly early in the season, before workers have had a chance to adapt to warm weather.

Outdoor workers include any workers who spend a substantial portion of the shift outdoors. Examples include construction workers, agricultural workers, baggage handlers, electrical power transmission and control workers, and landscaping and yard maintenance workers. These workers are at risk of heat-related illness when the heat index is high. Additional risk factors are listed below. These must be taken into consideration even when the heat index is lower.

• Work in direct sunlight – adds up to 15 degrees to the heat index.
• Perform prolonged or strenuous work
• Wear heavy protective clothing or impermeable suits

How can OSHA help? Workers have a right to a safe workplace. If you think your job is unsafe or have questions, visit OSHA’s Worker’s Page or call 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA). It’s confidential. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers’ Rights, Employer Responsibilities, and other services OSHA offers, visit OSHA’s Workers’ page.

OSHA also provides help to employers. OSHA’s On-site Consultation Program offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. For more information or for additional compliance assistance contact OSHA at 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA).

Additional Heat Illness Guidance/Resources

• Planning Checklists (PDF)
• Training Workers (PDF)
• Preparing For and Responding to Heat-Related Emergencies (PDF)
• About Work/Rest Schedules (PDF)
• Estimating Work Rates or Loads (PDF)
• Acclimatizing Workers (PDF)
• Monitoring Workers at Risk of Heat-Related Illness (PDF)
• All-in-One (PDF)

Understanding the risks, prevention, and signs and symptoms can help workers stay safe while working in hot outdoor environments.

Sun UV Ray Exposure

UV rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation. The UVA ray type is believed to damage connective tissue and increase the risk for developing skin cancer.

Sunlight exposure is highest during the summer and between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Working outdoors during these times increases the chances of getting sunburned and long-term exposure can lead to some types of skin cancer.

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Recommendations for Employers

Employers should take the following steps to protect workers from sun exposure:

• When possible, avoid scheduling outdoor work when sunlight exposure is the greatest
• Provide shaded or indoor break areas
• Provide training to workers about sun exposure (risk, prevention, signs and symptoms)

Recommendations for Workers

Workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from UV damage from sun exposure:

• Wear sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15.
• Old sunscreens should be thrown away because they lose their potency after 1-2 years.
• Sunscreens should be liberally applied (a minimum of 1 ounce) at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
• Sunscreens should be reapplied at least every 2 hours and each time a person gets out of the water or perspires heavily.
• Follow the application directions on the sunscreen bottle.
• Workers should also wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with almost 100% UV protection and with side panels to prevent excessive sun exposure to the eyes.
• CDC – Protect Your Employees from Skin Cancer

Heat Stress Overview

Understanding heat stress can help you to stay safe while working in hot environments. Things you need to know:

• Heat exposure can cause a range of effects on your body, from irritating rashes to heat stroke, which is often fatal.
• Heat exposure can cause confusion and poor judgment—use the buddy system to monitor coworkers for heat illness.
• Drinking enough water is critical to preventing heat illness. Stay hydrated.
• Cooling is the treatment for all heat illness.

Factors that Increase Heat Illness Risk

• High humidity
• Lack of wind or breeze to cool the body
• Dehydration
• Lack of acclimatization
• Age over 60 years
• Protective gear, including non-breathable or minimally breathable clothing, respirators, and chemical-resistant apparel
• History of heat illness
• History of recent illness unrelated to heat (especially involving vomiting or diarrhea)
• Certain health conditions
• Certain medications
• Physically demanding work
• Recent alcohol use (within previous 24 hours)

Heat Stress Safety

Stay hydrated!

• Drinking enough fluids is one of the most important ways to avoid heat illness.
• Don’t rely on thirst to tell you when you are dehydrated—thirst lags behind dehydration by several hours.
• Drink 1 cup (8 ounces) of water every 15–20 minutes while working in the heat.
• Electrolytes can be replaced by eating regular meals.
• Sports drinks can also replace electrolytes, but are not usually necessary unless heavy sweating continues for more than 2 hours

• Heat acclimatization is the improvement in heat tolerance that comes from gradually increasing the duration or intensity of work performed in a hot setting.
• Acclimatization is most effective if it takes place gradually over a period of 7 to 14 days.
• You begin to lose your acclimatization after about one week away from work in the heat.
• After 1 month away from work in the heat, most people will have lost nearly all heat acclimatization.

The different types of heat illness include: heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat rashes, and heat stroke. Heat can also increase workers’ risk of injuries, as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and may reduce brain function responsible for reasoning ability, creating additional hazards.

Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments indoors or outdoors, or even those engaged in strenuous physical activities may be at risk for heat stress. Occupational exposure to heat can result in injuries, disease, reduced productivity, and death.

Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses caused by heat stress, including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat rashes, or death. Heat can also increase workers’ risk of injuries, as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and may reduce brain function responsible for reasoning ability, creating additional hazards.

Other heat injuries, such as burns, may occur as a result of contact with hot surfaces, steam, or fire. Those at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments, such as fire fighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners (particularly surface miners), boiler room workers, and factory workers.

OSHA Training 10hr/30hr - 15% OFF SALE

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• Training provides an overview of OSHA, workplace hazards, workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and how to file a complaint. Required by some states and companies in order to start employment on a worksite.
• 10hr only $89 - 30hr only $169!
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OSHA Heat Prevention

The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) can help decision makers prepare for extreme heat events days, months, and years in the future.

Risk Factors for Heat Illness

Many outdoor workers are in good physical health, but several factors can increase their risk of suffering from heat illness:

• high temperature and humidity
• direct sunlight
• limited air movement (no breeze)
• moderate to heavy exertion
• heavy personal protective equipment
• dehydration
• some medications
• other sources of heat (furnaces, ovens, exhaust)

In some cases, heat-related illness can occur in temperatures as low as the 70s (°F).

Types of Heat Illness

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies the following five main types of heat illness:

1. Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is considered the most serious heat-related illness, occurring when the body can no longer regulate its temperature. The body temperature quickly rises and the ability cool off by sweating often fails. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability in the absence of emergency treatment.

• Symptoms: Hot, dry skin; hallucinations; chills; throbbing headache; high body temperature; confusion/dizziness; slurred speech.
• First Aid: Call 911 and notify supervisor; move affected worker to shaded area; take steps to cool the individual (spraying with water, fanning).

2. Heat Exhaustion: As a response to excessive loss of water and salt, the body may experience heat exhaustion. Those who are elderly or have high blood pressure are particularly vulnerable.

• Symptoms: Heavy sweating; extreme weakness; dizziness/confusion; nausea; clammy skin; pale complexion; muscle cramps; slightly elevated body temperature; fast, shallow breathing.
• First Aid: Have worker rest in a cool or shaded area; give worker plenty of water and have them take a cool bath, if possible.

3. Heat Syncope

Heat syncope is an episode of dizziness or fainting that can occur with prolonged standing or from suddenly standing from a sitting position. This can occur as a result of dehydration or a lack of acclimatization.

• Symptoms: Light-headedness; dizziness; fainting.
• First Aid: Have affected worker sit in a cool place once they feel symptoms, in addition to slowly drinking water or a sports beverage.

4. Heat Cramps

Heat cramps typically are a result of low salt levels in muscles as a result of excessive sweating. They also may be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

• Symptoms: Muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs.
• First Aid: Stop activity and sit in a cool place; drink clear juice or a sports beverage; abstain from strenuous work for a few hours; seek medical attention if the worker has heart problems or the cramps don’t subside after one hour.

5. Heat Rash

Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating.

• Symptoms: Appears as a red cluster of pimples or small blisters; likely to occur on the neck, upper chest, groin, under the breasts and in elbow creases.
• First Aid: Keep worker in cooler, less humid environment; keep affected area(s) dry; use dusting powder, if available.

Heat Stress – Health and Safety Training

A heat stress training program should be in place for all who work in hot environments and their supervisors. Workers and supervisors should be trained about the prevention and first aid of heat-related illness before they begin work in a hot environment and before heat index levels go up.

Heat prevention training should be reinforced on hot days. Prevention of heat-related illnesses depends on early recognition of the signs and symptoms of impending heat-related illness and initiation of first aid and corrective procedures at the earliest possible moment.

OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Training Guide

• A guide for employers to carry out heat safety training, with lesson plans (tailgate or toolbox talks).
• Available in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)

Summary

Many outdoor workers get uncomfortably hot during summer. Employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace – free from unsafe exposure to heat that can result in injuries, disease, reduced productivity, and death.

Heat Safety Resources for Worker and Employers

Supervisors: Preventing heat-related illness in your workers requires a commitment to monitoring daily temperatures, continual awareness of workers’ level of effort, and heat-illness prevention training.

Workers: Learn to recognize signs that you or your coworkers need to cool down. Be ready to seek help if you or your coworkers are disoriented, confused, or slurring speech.

• OSHA’s Heat Health site offers a free smartphone app to help people monitor their risk of heat illness as well as fact sheets and posters in English and Spanish.
• OSHA-NIOSH offers an INFOSHEET (PDF) describing symptoms and treatments for heat illness.
• The Heat Stress Chapter of OSHA’s Technical Manual offers definitions and examples to help supervisors manage heat hazards.

• National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) can help decision makers prepare for extreme heat events days, months, and years in the future.
• Centers for Disease Control – Extreme Heat and Your Health provides information for populations that are vulnerable to high heat, a media toolkit to help spread the word about heat hazards, and other heat-health resources.
• National Weather Service – Heat Safety Site offers heat safety tips and resources for on the job, indoors, outdoors, and in vehicles.
• CDC Guide: Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments (PDF)
• UPDATED from NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard – Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments
• Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat Fact Sheet (PDF). OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3743), (August 2014).
• Protecting Workers from Heat Illness (PDF). OSHA-NIOSH Heat Illness Info Sheet, (2011).
• Occupational Heat Exposure. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
• Protecting Yourself From Heat Stress. NIOSH Fast Facts (Publication 2010-114), (April 2010).
• Heat Stress. NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Extreme Heat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Preparedness and Response.
• Beat the Heat: Heat Safety Resources. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service.
• California Campaign to Protect Outdoor Workers From Heat Illness.^*** Cal/OSHA.
• Heat Illness Prevention.^*** Cal/OSHA, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
• Heat Illness Prevention eTool.^*** Cal/OSHA.
• Quick Facts for Employees (PDF) (English and Spanish). Oregon OSHA (QF-008 OR-OSHA).
• Outdoor Heat Exposure (OHE, Heat Stress).^*** Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.
• Website and “Don’t Fry Day”. National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP).
• Sun Safety. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Skin Cancer.

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Why is Food Safety Handler-Manager Training Necessary?

Food safety and sanitation are integral to operating a successful food service. The safety of our food supply is a responsibility shared by consumers, producers, sellers and handlers. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that because of foodborne illness 76 million people fall ill, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 Americans die annually.* Because of these alarming statistics, many states require certification of food managers which may include a food safety exam.

Why is a Food Safety Course so important and why do some states require it?  The answer is very simple. Every consumer deserves and has the right to be served food that is safe to eat.

Now you can earn your State-Approved Food Safety Handler or Manager Certification entirely online anytime!

*Reference: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/5/99-0502_article

Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) Training Course and ANSI-CFP Exam

A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is a certification that is obtained by the owner or employee of food facilities that prepare, handle, or serve non-prepackaged potentially hazardous food. The Certified Food Manager (CFM) Training Program accredits and licenses training programs for candidates new to the food industry who may need training.

Our Learn2Serve Food Protection Manager Certification is approved by the American National Standards Institute and the Conference for Food Protection (ANSI-CFP). This accredited exam is accepted in all states that have mandatory certification requirements for Food Management Professionals. A candidate must pass a food safety examination from an accredited certification provider as recognized by ANSI-CFP. The certificate will be valid for a maximum period of 5 years. The exam will be proctored by an employee at the 3rd party test center location.  A 3rd party test center is a location outside of your company location.

Before the Exam: To login into the exam you will need the username and password sent to you in the exam enrollment notice email. If you did not receive your username and password contact Customer Support at 855-796-3525. IMPORTANT: You must have your Username and Password available when you arrive to take the exam.

To Schedule Your Exam Online (Log into PSI Exams and search for Exam Providers in your area – see screenshot below):  After purchasing the exam, please click here to schedule your exam.

Course and Exam Completion Instructions: Upon receiving a passing score of 70%, candidates may print a proof of completion certificate from the LMS. Also, an official certificate will be mailed to candidates within 15 business days of exam completion. Certificate details are provided in this end of course instructions document. (400K- PDF) – Download