HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN (HIPP) FOR. PAR Electrical Contractors Inc.

Transcription

1 HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN (HIPP) FOR PAR Electrical Contractors Inc. Employer Name: PAR Electrical Contractors Inc. Address: 1465 W. 4 th St., Reno, NV Revised: December 18,

2 Heat Illness Prevention Elements The elements reflected within this Heat Illness Prevention guide are those contained in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 3395 (T8 CCR 3395) and consist of the following: Provisions of Water Access to Shade High Heat Procedures Written Procedures Training Provisions of Water Water is a key preventative measure to minimize the risk of heat related illnesses. Employees shall have access to potable drinking water. Where the supply of water is not plumbed or otherwise continuously supplied: Water shall be provided in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift to provide one quart per employee per hour for drinking the entire shift. Employees may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have effective procedures for replenishment during the shift as needed to allow employee to drink one quart of more per hour frequent drinking of water shall be encouraged. Sample procedures included but are not limited to the following: Bring at least two (2) quarts per employee at the start of the shift, and Supervisor/designated person will monitor water containers every thirty (30) minutes and employees are encouraged to report to supervisor/designated person low levels or dirty water. Supervisors will remind employees to drink frequently and provide more water breaks. 2

3 Every morning there will be short tailgate meeting to remind workers about the importance of frequent consumption of water throughout the shift. Place water containers as close as possible to the workers. When drinking water levels within a container drop below 50%, the water shall be replenished immediately; or water levels should not fall below the point that will allow for adequate water during the time necessary to effect replenishment. To ensure access to sufficient quantities of potable drinking water, the following steps will be taken: Bottles of drinking water are supplied to each crew and cases are picked up each day before the start of the job. Five (5) gallon bottles will be made available if desired by the crews. To encourage frequent drinking of potable water, the following steps will be taken: Crews shall be reminded periodically during safety meetings, safety stand-downs or other times to consume water frequently throughout the day. Drinking adequate water frequently is vital to workers exposed to the heat as individuals may produce as much as two (2) to three (3) gallons of sweat per day. In order to replenish that fluid, the worker should drink three (3) to four (4) cups of water every hour starting at the beginning of each shift. Access to Shade Access to rest and shade or other cooing measures are important preventative steps to minimize the risk of het related illnesses. Employees suffering from heat illness or believing a preventative recovery period is needed shall be provided access to an area with shade that is either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling for a period of no less than five minutes. Such access to shade shall be permitted at all times. Shade is required to be present when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Sample procedures include but are not limited to the following: Supervisor will set-up an adequate number of; umbrellas, canopies or other portable devices at the start of the shift and will relocate them to be closer to the crew as needed. Equipment should be placed in close proximity, such as no more than yards to the work activity. 3

4 Employees have access to office or construction trailer, vehicle, or other building with air conditioning. There shall be short tailgate meeting to remind workers about the importance of rest breaks and the location of shade. Non-agricultural employers can use other cooling measures if they demonstrate these methods are as effective as shade. To ensure access to shade at all times, the following steps will be taken: Canopies are available to all underground crews, in addition air conditioned vehicles are available and crewmembers are encouraged to use the vehicles if any employee is suffering from heat illness or needs a preventative recovery period. All metal helicopter landing zones are available for shade when not being utilized by air operations. Vehicles may be utilized as a source of shade and the air conditioning can be started and the windows rolled up when the cab has cooled off. Employees have the following shade/cooling items available to upon requests: Cooling head bands Hardhat Shade Extensions Safari/Legionnaire Neck Shade Cool Vest To ensure employees have access to a preventative recovery period, the following steps will be taken: All heat illness will be reported immediately to a Safety Coordinator by company radio or phone, no matter how minor. The employee is to be removed immediately from the work area and placed in a shaded environment. If there is an on-site emergency medical technician available, they should be contacted to make and on-site review of the employee s condition and recommend the necessary medical steps to be taken. High Heat Procedures When temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the following conditions shall be followed to the extent practicable: Ensure an effective communication system is in place to contact supervision when necessary. Observing employees for alertness and signs or symptoms of heat illness. Reminding employees throughout the work shift to drink plenty of water. 4

5 Close supervision of new employee s by a supervisor for the first fourteen (14) days of employment under high heat conditions. Written Procedures Written procedures help reduce the risk of heat related illnesses and ensure emergency assistance is provided without delay. The employer s procedures shall be in writing and shall be made available to employees and to representatives of Cal/OSHA upon request. These include: Procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard. Procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including how emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary. Procedures for contacting emergency medical services, and if necessary, for transporting employees to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider. Procedures for ensuring the, in the event of emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. Sample written procedures include, but are not limited to the following: All employees working outdoors will be trained. Working hours will be modified to work during the cooler hours of the day when possible. When modified or shorter work-shift is not possible, more water and rest breaks will be provided. Supervisors will continuously check all employees and stay alert to the presence of heat related symptoms. Supervisors will carry cell phones or other means of communication to ensure emergency services can be called and check that these are functional at the worksite. Workers will be reminded about the address and directions to the worksite and emergency procedures. To reduce the risk of heat related illness and respond to possible symptoms of heat illness, the following steps will be taken: Taking breaks in cool shaded areas and allowing time to recover from the heat during the day are effective ways to avoid heat illness. 5

6 When working in the heat, pay attention to co-workers and be sure you know how to call for medical attention. On large transmission projects, if an Emergency Medical Technician is available and at his/her option the employee needs transportation to a local hospital the Landing Zone may be utilized as a pick up point for Emergency Services To ensure emergency medical services are provided without delay, the following steps will be taken: When working in the heat, pay attention to co-workers and be sure you know how to call for medical attention. All crews have company radios that are monitored by the entire work force and those radios shall always be the first line of reporting any heat related illness. All heat illness will be reported immediately to a Safety Coordinator over the company radio or by phone, no matter how minor. The employee is to be removed immediately from the work area and placed in a shaded environment. If available, the on-site emergency medicals technician will be contacted to make an on-site review of the employee s condition and recommend the necessary medical steps to be taken. On large transmission jobs, if an Emergency Medical Technician is available and in his/her opinion the employee needs transporting to a local hospital the Landing Zone will be utilized as a pick up pint for Emergency Services. TRAINING Training is critical to help reduce the risk of heat related illnesses and to assist with obtaining emergency assistance without delay. Employee Training: Training in the following topics shall be provided to all supervisory and non-supervisory employees. The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness. The employer s procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard. The importance of frequent consumption of small quantities of water, up to four (4) cups per hour when the work environment is hot and employees are likely to seat more than usual in performance of their duties. The importance of acclimatization. The different types of heat illness and the common signs and symptoms of heat illness. 6

7 The importance to employees of immediately reporting to the employee, directly or through the employee s supervisor, symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves, or in co-workers. The employer s procedures for responding to symptoms of possible heat illness, including how the emergency medical services will be provided should they become necessary. The employer s procedures for contacting emergency medical services and if necessary, for the transporting employee s to a point where they can be reached by and emergency medical service provider. The employers procedures for ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, clear and precise direction to the work site can and will be provided as necessary to emergency responders. The employer s procedures for ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, clear and precise directions to the work site can and will be provided as needed to emergency responders. Supervisor Training: Prior to assignment to supervision of employees working in the heat, training on the following topics shall be provided: The information required to be provided by section (e) (1) above. The procedures the supervisor is to follow to implement th applicable provisions in thei section. The procedures the supervisor is to follow when an employee exhibits symptoms consistent with possible heat illness, including emergency response procedures. Sample written procedures include but are not limited to the following: All employees working outdoors will receive heat illness prevention training. On hot days and during a heat wave, supervisors will hold short tailgate meetings to review the important information with all workers. All newly hired workers will be assigned a buddy or experienced co-worker to ensure they understood the training and follow company procedures. Supervisors of outdoor employees will be trained in the Heat Illness Prevention Program Primary and secondary employers will ensure all employee s (including temporary) working outdoors are trained in heat illness prevention. To ensure employees are trained; the following steps will be taken: Early each spring but no later than April 15 th, all employees will be given training n Heat Illness Preventions and how to protect themselves from heat illness. 7

8 Morning safety meetings will be monitored to see that management and supervision are emphasizing drinking plenty of water and utilizing shade to remain out of the sun where possible. To ensure supervisors are provided training, the following steps will be taken: Each spring but no later than April 15 th, all employees will be given training in Heat Illness Preventions and how to protect themselves from heat illness. Morning safety meetings will be monitored to see that management and supervision are emphasizing drinking plenty of water and utilizing shade to remain out of the sun where possible. All new supervisors will be given Heat Injury Preventions training within one month of starting a new job assignment. If the entire crew is new, then the training will be given within one week of starting a new job. All new supervisors will receive a Foreman s book containing Emergency Action Procedures and Reporting Requirements. This book will contain PAR s Heat and Illness Preventions and Heat Stress Risk Evaluation and Management guidelines. 8