Contractors Urged to Protect Outdoor Workers from Seasonal Heat

With summer approaching, Cal/OSHA is reminding contractors and other employers with employees who work outdoors that prevention is the best defense against heat-related illness and death.

A key component to Cal/OSHA's prevention model includes annual trainings statewide in English and Spanish. The trainings highlight the need to protect outdoor workers from heat illness and the requirements under California's heat illness standard.

The risk of heat illness is generally highest for people who work outdoors. Therefore, Cal/OSHA's approach to prevention includes inspections at outdoor work sites in industries such as landscaping, construction, and agriculture during heat season. These targeted inspections check for compliance with the heat illness prevention standard and the injury and illness prevention standard, which require employers to take the following basic precautions:

• Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention. Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least one quart per hour, or (four 8-ounce glasses of water per hour), and encourage them to do so.
• Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down. Shade structures must be in place when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or upon request
• Closely observe all employees during a heat wave and any employee newly assigned to a high heat area. Lighter work, frequent breaks or shorter hours will help employees who have not been working in high temperatures adapt to the new conditions.
• Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard, including plans on how to handle medical emergencies and steps to take if someone shows signs or symptoms of heat illness.

The most frequent violation that Cal/OSHA cites during targeted heat inspections is the failure to have a proper written heat illness prevention plan specific to the work site. Serious violations are often related to inadequate access to water and shade, and to a lack of supervisor and employee training.

To remain in compliance with the standard, Cal/OSHA encourages employers and worker supervisors to learn more about the standard, which was updated in 2015. Please refer to the Cal/OSHA guidance on the new requirements and the Heat Illness Prevention Enforcement Q&A for more information on the updates.

Additional information about heat illness prevention, including details on upcoming training sessions throughout the state can be found on Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention page. Cal/OSHA also has extensive multilingual materials for employers, workers and trainers on its Water. Rest. Shade. public awareness campaign website.

Questions related to heat illness prevention should be directed to Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch, which provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call 800.963.9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844.522.6734. The California Workers' Information line at 866.924.9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.