Listen up employers. Over the past month the heat wave has been sweeping the nation. With temperatures reaching into the triple digits. Employers need to educate their supervisors, managers and outside workers of the dangers that are associated with Heat Illness. OSHA and Cal/OSHA have started a campaign called, “Water. Rest. Shade”. This campaign provides employers with education resources for employers and workers. OSHA and Cal/OSHA have provided a Heat Illness Prevention Kit for employers to help educate and prevent heat illness in the workplace. This information is in Spanish and English. OSHA has gone as far as creating an app for Heat Safety. The app is available for Android, iPhone and coming soon to Blackberry.

Cal/OSHA announced that it is investigating two suspected heat related deaths in the construction and agriculture industries that occurred over the past month. This news is a stark reminder that employers must be vigilant in complying with California’s heat illness prevention standard.

The most recent suspected fatality occurred on June 1 and involved a 56-year-old farm worker who collapsed while pruning fruit trees. According to Cal/OSHA, the man was working in high-heat conditions at the time of the collapse. The other case involved an 18-year-old masonry worker who fell unconscious as the crew was cleaning up for the day and died the next day.

HRWatchdog previously reported that CAL/OSHA kicked off its 2012 heat illness prevention campaign. Employers with outdoor workers must remember that high-heat provisions apply whenever temperatures reach 95 degrees and include extra precautions, such as ensuring effective communication, observing all employees for signs of heat illness, closely supervising new employees and frequently reminding employees to drink water.

In announcing its investigation, Cal/OSHA said its staff will enforce compliance with the state’s high-heat standard through scheduled inspections and local “heat wave” inspections when temperatures rise dramatically. The agency will provide statewide heat illness prevention training through September. For more information, visit Cal/OSHA’sHeat Illness webpage.

Cal/OSHA launched its 2012 heat illness campaign aimed at preventing worker deaths and illnesses due to heat exposure at outdoor workplaces.

Cal/OSHA already started inspections in California to ensure compliance with the heat illness prevention standard, and will conduct coordinated inspections across the state throughout the summer.

Cal/OSHA will also team with employer and worker organizations to educate workers about heat illness prevention. Cal/OSHA will continue its ongoing outreach efforts and engage in an extensive multilingual media campaign to remind workers and employers of their obligations.

Cal/OSHA will also provide statewide heat illness prevention training. Training dates are available from May through September. For more information about Cal/OSHA training, visit Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness web page.

In 2005, California became the first state in the nation to adopt heat illness regulations on an emergency basis. The regulations became permanent in 2006. 

In 2010, the regulations were strengthened to include a high heat provision applicable to five industries:  agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation/delivery of agricultural products.