As the first major heat wave of the season sends temperatures across California into the 100s, Cal/OSHA reminds all employers to review high temperature advisories and warnings in effect throughout the week — and to protect their outdoor workers from heat illness.

Heat illness occurs when the body’s temperature control system is incapable of maintaining an acceptable temperature. While the body typically cools itself by sweating, high temperatures and humidity prevent the body from efficiently releasing heat, so body temperature can rise quickly. Because very high body temperatures can damage the brain and other vital organs, and may eventually lead to death, it’s imperative that employers with outdoor workers take several precautions to protect those workers.

California’s heat illness prevention standard applies to all outdoor workers, as well as those who spend a significant amount of time working outdoors, such as security guards and groundskeepers, or in non-air-conditioned vehicles, such as delivery drivers.

To prevent heat illness, employers with outdoor workers must:

•    Develop and implement an effective, written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
•    Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
•    Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge so each worker can drink at least one quart per hour — and encourage workers to do so.
•    Provide shade when workers request it or when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes when they feel the need to do so to protect themselves from overheating. Workers should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.