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Environmental Health and Safety Blog | EHSWire

How to Plan for Heat Related Emergencies

Posted by Shivi Kakar

Jul 16, 2015 9:12:00 AM

howto-plan-heat-related-emergenciesIt is important that worksite emergency procedures are clearly listed for all employees and that adequate information is listed on how to moderate hot weather emergencies.

  • Prepare an action plan in case a worker encounters temperature-related condition.
  • Make sure medical staff is available during working hours
  • Ensure your staff knows what course of action to take if a coworker displays signs of heat related sickness
  • Have staff prepared to issue first aid to any person showing signs of heat stress
  • Immediately call emergency services (call 911) if anyone shows signs of heat stroke
  • Have clear and concise directions laid out for all persons at the worksite
  • Response to someone suffering heat stress

o   Move person into a shaded area

o   Loosen clothing

o   Wet and fan the skin to provide cooling

o   Place ice packs in the arm pits and neck if available

o   Provide the affected with water

  • If the persons condition worsens, call emergency medical services
  • Signs that a person’s conditions is becoming worse

o   Loss of consciousness

o   Person appears confused

o   Person appears uncoordinated

  • Make sure there is always someone attending to a worker suffering from heat related problems, they should never be left alone
  • It is imperative that all workers use emergency procedures properly whenever needed
  • Develop plan to reschedule work incase conditions become unsafe

 

Just how to React To Heat-related Issues...

If it is noticed that a worker is suffering from heat related problems, all work must immediately be stopped and action must be taken to assist the affected. Remember, heat stoke is a medical emergency, therefore emergency services must be called immediately.

Source: OSHA

Ailment

Symptoms:

First Aid

Heat Stroke

 

  • Fainting
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Excessive sweating
  • Red, hot, or dry skin
  • Excessively high body temperature

 

  • CALL 911

While waiting

  • Move worker to cool shaded area
  • Loosen clothing
  • Wet and fan workers skin
  • Place cool packs in armpits and on neck
  • Provide worker with cool water
  • Never leave worker unattended

Heat Exhaustion

  • Cool, moist skin
  • Heavy sweating
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Light headedness
  • Weakness
  • Thirst
  • Irritability
  • Fast heart beat

 

  • Move Worker to cool shaded area for rest
  • Provide worker with cool water
  • Use ice packs to cool workers skin
  • If symptoms do not improve within 60 minutes seek further experienced medical attention
  • Worker should not return to work that day

 

Heat Cramps

  • Muscle spasms
  • Pain
  • Usually in abdomen, arms, or leg

 

  • Move worker to cool shaded area for rest
  • Provide worker with cool water
  • Worker should not return back to work for a few hours
  • If cramps persist for the whole day, have worker seek more advanced medical attention

 

Heat Rash

  • Clusters of red bumps on skin
  • Often appears on neck, upper chest, folds of skin

 

  • If possible try to move work into a cooler, dryer environment
  • Keep the affected area on the skin dry

 

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