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Heat Safety in the Workplace

Program Overview

Montgomery College Heat Safety Program establishes guidelines and procedures to protect individuals from heat-related exposures and illnesses. This program applies to all MC employees, students, and contractors who are exposed or who have the potential to be exposed to heat hazards on campus property. The purpose of this program is to ensure all MC employees working outdoors or in unconditioned indoor environments where environmental risk factors for heat illness are present, are protected from heat illness and are knowledgeable of heat illness symptoms, methods to prevent illness, and procedures to follow if symptoms occur.

Regulation

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Heat Stress Standards apply to both indoor and outdoor workplaces where employees are exposed to a heat index at or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit [COMAR 09.12.32]. The heat index, or apparent temperature, is an indication of what the temperature feels like to the body while taking into account relative humidity and air temperature.

exemptions

  • Employees who are incidentally exposed to a heat index at or above 80ºF for less than 15 minutes per hour.
  • Emergency operations and essential services.
  • Work areas in buildings, structures, and vehicles that have a mechanical ventilation system or fan that maintains the heat index below 80ºF.

What are heat-related illnesses?

Exposure to abnormal or prolonged amounts of heat and humidity without relief or adequate fluid intake can cause various types of heat-related illness.  People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to regulate internal body temperature. In hot weather, the body normally cools itself by sweating. Under some conditions, however, sweating isn't enough. Such conditions include: high humidity, where air movement is limited, working in direct sun, heavy physical exertion and poor physical condition. Some medical conditions and medications can also reduce the body's ability to tolerate heat.

There are 3 types of heat-related illness:

  • Heat Cramps
  • Heat Exhaustion
  • Heat Stroke

What you need to know

  • Monitor heat index throughout the work shift, using direct measurements of temperature and humidty, National Weather Service or other recognized source, NIOSH Heat Safety Tool application.
  • Ensure personnel who work outdoors complete required heat safety training initially (upon hire or prior to starting work outdoors) and annually:
  • Complete Heat Illness Prevention Plan and submit to Public Health & Environmental Safety.
  • Implement the written Heat Illness Prevention plan.
  • Implement high-heat procedures and ensure appropriate worker acclimatization.
  • Facilitate coll-down rests in the shade and supply drinking water.
  • When there is a high heat advisory, meet with the staff to discuss Heat Illness prevention plan, provide reliable means of summoning emergency medical services, monitor employees well-being and recognize symptoms of heat illness.
  • Complete required training initially and annually:
  • Follow your department's Heat Illness Prevention Plan
  • Drink adequate amounts of suitably cool water (up to one quart/hour).
  • Request breaks when needed.
  • When temperatures are at or above 90ºF take preventative cool-down rest breaks of at least 10 minutes every 2 hours.
  • When temperatures are at or above 100ºF take preventative cool-down rest breaks of at least 15 minutes every hour.
  • Recognize and monitor yourself for symptoms of heat-related illness and know your personal risk factors for heat-related illness, which may include medications, obesity, diabetes, heat disease among others.
  • Develop and oversee the personnel safety and compliance requirements.
  • Provide Heat Safety training and update as needed.
  • Provide a template Heat Illness Prevention Plan and update as needed.
  • Provide technical assistance to units and departments.
  • Incidence response, tracking and prevention
  • Serve as College representative and liaison to Maryland Occupational Safety and Health for all campus locations.

Symptoms of heat stress

Skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.

Symptoms
  • red cluster of pimples or small blisters
  • usually on neck, upper chest, groin, under breasts and in elbow creases.
First Aid Measures
  • work in a cooler less humid environment, if possible.
  • Keep rash area dry.
  • Apply powder to increase comfort.
  • Do not use ointments and creams.

Usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenous activity causing loss of the body's salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Symptoms
  • muscle cramps, pain or spasms in the abdomen, arms or legs
First Aid Measures
  • Drink water and have a snack or drink that replaces carbohydrates and electrolytes (such as sports drinks) every 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Avoid salt tablets.
  • Get medical help if worker: has heart problems, is on a low sodium diet, has cramps that do not subside within 1 hour.

A fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs when standing for too long or suddenly standing after sitting or lying. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.

Symptoms
  • fainting of a short duration
  • dizziness, light-headedness from standing too long or suddenly rising from a sitting or lying position.
First Aid Measures
  • sit or lie down in a cool place.
  • Slowly drink water, clear juice or a sports drink

A medical condition associated with heat stress and prolonged physical exertion. Rhabdomyolysis causes the rapid breakdown, rupture, and death of muscle. When muscle tissue dies, electrolytes and large proteins are released into the bloodstream. This can cause irregular heart rhythms, seizures, and damage to the kidneys.

Symptoms
  • muscle cramps/pain,
  • abnormally dark (tea or cola-colored) urine,
  • weakness,
  • exercise intolerance,
  • sometines can be asymptomatic
First Aid Measures
  • workers with symptoms of rhabdomyolysis should stop activity, drink more liquids (water preferred), seek immediate care at the nearest medical facility, ask to be checked for rhabdomyolysis (i.e. blood sample analyze for creatine kinase)

The body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating and most likely to affect: the elderly, people with high blood pressure, those working in hot environment.

Symptoms
  • headache,
  • nausea,
  • dizziness,
  • weakness,
  • irritability,
  • thirst,
  • heavy sweating,
  • elevated body temperature,
  • decreased urine output.
First Aid Measures
  • remove worker from the hot area and give liquids to drink,
  • remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks,
  • cool worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face, and neck with cold water,
  • encourage frequent sips of cool water
  • if symptoms do not improve, worsen or symptoms of heat stroke are observed, call 911.

The most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106ºF or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death if the person does not receive emergency treatment.

Symptoms
  • confusion,
  • altered mental status,
  • slurred speech,
  • loss of consciousness (coma)
  • hot and dry skin or profuse sweating,
  • seizures,
  • very high body temperature,
  • fatal if treatment is delayed.
First Aid Measures
  • call 911 for emergency care,
  • stay with the worker until emergency medical services arrive,
  • move worker to a shaded, cool area
  • remove outer clothing,
  • circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling,
  • place cold wet cloth or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin, or soak the clothing with cool water.
  • Cool the worker quickly using the following methods: with a cold water or ice bath, is possible, wet the skin, place cold wet cloths on the skin, soak clothing with cool water.
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