July’s Safety Spotlight Topic – Heat Illness Prevention

The monthly Safety Spotlight topic for July is Heat Illness Prevention.  Please share the attached Safety Spotlight with employees highlighting important heat illness information.  Since heat illness can affect student athletes as well, we’ve included a handout on Heat Illness Prevention for Student Athletes.

OSS FCSIG Heat Illness Safety Spotlight

The California Code of Regulations Heat Illness Standard requires employers to have a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan.  The requirements of the Heat Illness Prevention Plan were updated in 2015.  (Please see the attached handout for those changes.) If yourHeat Illness Prevention Plan does not reflect these changes or if you do not have a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan, please contact me for assistance.

California employers are required to take these four steps to prevent heat illness:

1. Training – Train all employees and supervisors about heat illness prevention.
2. Water – Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour, or four 8 ounce glasses, of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
3. Shade – Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
4. Planning – Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard.

For more information on heat illness prevention, please visit the Cal/OSHA website at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/heatillnessinfo.html.