Blazing Trails, Not Workers

A Western Guide to Heat Safety on the Jobsite

The Silent Threat of Heat

Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities worldwide. People are right to worry when they see dark clouds, rain, wind, or thunder. However, heat is a silent threat and often underestimated despite its potential to cause severe injury or death. More than 70% of workplace heat-related deaths occur during a worker’s first week on the job.

Where Heat Risks Rise on the Jobsite

When employees are working outdoors, near heat producing equipment, performing strenuous physical activity, or wearing heavy or non-breathable clothing, employers must make plans to keep workers safe from potential heat illness. Every construction site will include at least one of these elements of increased risk but often all these conditions are present, which increases the potential for heat injuries even more.

Water, Shade, and Rest Breaks

To create a safe working environment when there is a potential for heat illness, the jobsite must include Water, Shade, and Rest Breaks. Unfortunately, new construction sites may not always have water or shade readily available. Therefore, the employer company and supervising staff must ensure their workers have access to these resources and plan for scheduled rest breaks. Allowing the workers to take breaks “as needed” and/or “whenever they like” is not an adequate plan and has frequently resulted in working beyond what is safe, heat illness and death.

Engineering Controls and Smart Tools

Additional engineering controls should be used whenever possible. These may include cooling fans, misting fans, reflective shields, insulation around hot machines, cooling benches or seats for breaks and the use of mechanical equipment to reduce manual work, such as – forklifts and conveyors. Using a wet bulb globe thermometer (WBGT) along with a heat stress calculator can help assess environmental conditions and identify appropriate controls more accurately. Changing work practices during hotter weather is also recommended. Work practices changes include starting work earlier, rotating work to minimize exertion or exposure to hot equipment and implementing a buddy system so workers actively monitor each other for early signs of heat stress.

Training Workers to Spot Trouble

Workers experiencing heat illness may not recognize their own symptoms, and a coworker may notice the warning signs first. For this reason, all construction workers must be trained on heat hazards, how to recognize heat stress, and how to respond if you suspect heat stress. The most important rule is to never leave a coworker alone if heat illness is suspected.

A Watchful Eye on the Jobsite

Finally, at least one person at the worksite must be responsible and accountable for monitoring conditions and executing the company’s heat illness prevention plan throughout the day including the acclimatization process for new workers and those workers returning from a leave. Heat conditions can change rapidly, and those workers who are not acclimatized are most at risk and must be monitored more closely. The supervisor must also be prepared to administer first aid for heat-related illnesses and activate emergency medical services quickly if needed.

Resources for Staying Safe

For additional resources, visit https://www.osha.gov/publications/bytopic/heat-illness-prevention. Contact us with questions or to help with training your team.