Cal/OSHA reminds employers, workers to keep their cool
Posted October 25, 2017
As temperatures rise in Southern California, Cal/OSHA reminds all employers to protect their outdoor workers from heat hazards. It might be autumn, but temperatures are expected to reach over 100 degrees in some areas of the state, which raises the risk of heat illnesses.
Cal/OSHA says workers who have existing health problems or medical conditions may have less tolerance for hot conditions and should be extra vigilant. Certain medications, such as high blood pressure pills and anti-inflammatories, can also increase a worker’s risk of a heat illness. Workers who experience early symptoms of overheating should rest in the shade until the symptoms are gone.
California’s heat regulation requires employers of outdoor workers to take additional precautions when temperatures climb to 95 degrees or above. Workers must be monitored for early signs of heat illness to ensure they receive immediate treatment and the condition does not worsen. In addition, employers must train supervisors and employees on emergency procedures on how to treat a worker who does develop a heat illness.
Cal/OSHA’s special emphasis program on Heat Illness Prevention includes enforcement of the heat regulations along with a multilingual outreach effort and statewide training program for employers and workers.
J. J. Keller's California Workplace Safety Manual provides guidance to help comply with Cal/OSHA's most scrutinized requirements.
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