Heat Illness Prevention

It started out just like any other day. I was building the frame of a house. It was
getting really hot — but, you know, it's hard to avoid being in the sun when you're
doing work on a home. But after a few hours, I started getting cramps in my legs...
My head was spinning; I wanted to vomit. I thought maybe it was something I ate... Later
on, I found out that I had collapsed. IT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS TO PREVENT.
YET IF ACTION ISN'T TAKEN EARLY AND QUICKLY, IT CAN BE DEADLY. AND IT CAN HAPPEN JUST BY
WORKING UNDER THE SUN. Last summer, I was out in the field. I noticed
I felt really tired. I kept working because I wanted to pick as much as possible.
After a while, it seemed hard to concentrate; I felt confused, disoriented. I knew I had
to cool off somewhere... But there was no shade anywhere, no place
for me to sit down in the shade. I started stumbling around, looking for somewhere to
sit down. IT'S HEAT ILLNESS, AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE
WHO WORKS OUTDOORS. BUT IF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT IT, EVERYONE CAN STAY
SAFE AND HEALTHY. WHEN YOU WORK OUTDOORS DOING PHYSICAL WORK
— ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HOT AND HUMID — YOUR BODY GETS HOT. IF YOU DON'T DRINK PLENTY
OF WATER AND TAKE TIME TO REST AND COOL OFF, YOU CAN OVERHEAT.
I found out it doesn't take much for your health to take a turn. One minute you can
be fine, just feeling a little warm. And all of sudden it hits you — you're exhausted,
thirsty and very sick. SOME OF THE EARLY SIGNS INCLUDE MUSCLE CRAMPS,
HEAVY SWEATING, RAPID HEART BEAT, FEELING TIRED, HEADACHES, NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIZZINESS.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION. HEAT STROKE IS A MORE SERIOUS FORM OF HEAT
ILLNESS AND WORKERS CAN OFTEN DIE FROM IT. SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE INCLUDE HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE,
LITTLE OR NO SWEATING, AND RED, HOT, DRY SKIN. YOU CAN ALSO EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, FAINTING,
CONFUSION, AND EVEN CONVULSIONS. BE AWARE OF THE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF HEAT ILLNESS,
AS YOU MAY NEED MEDICAL HELP. SOME HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS HEART PROBLEMS OR DIABETES
PUT YOU AT AN EVEN GREATER RISK, SO BE SURE TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR WORK IN
THE HEAT. FORTUNATELY, HEAT ILLNESS IS EASY TO PREVENT
— AND THE STEPS TO PREVENT IT SHOULD SIMPLY BE PART OF THE JOB: THESE INCLUDE WATER, SHADE,
REST, AND TRAINING. DRINK WATER OFTEN, EVEN IF YOU AREN'T THIRSTY.
IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DRINK 4 CUPS OR 8 CONES OF WATER C EACH HOUR WHEN WORKING
IN HOT WEATHER. YOUR EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PLENTY OF FRESH, COOL WATER DURING
THE WORK DAY. When I first heard that I needed to be drinking
at least four cups of water every hour, it sounded like way too much. I thought that
I'd have to take a lot of bathroom breaks. But being out in the sun, I sweat away most
of the water I drink, and I'm not taking extra bathroom breaks
MAKE SURE YOU REST IN THE SHADE. BY LAW YOU CAN ASK FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES TO REST AND
RECOVER FROM HEAT AND YOUR EMPLOYER MUST PROVIDE SHADED AREAS. SOMETIMES WORKERS FEAR STOPPING
TO REST. THEY FEEL THE PRESSURE TO WORK AND EARNMORE MONEY, OR WANT TO SHOW THEY ARE GOOD,
STRONG WORKERS. BUT RESTING CAN ACTUALLY MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE.
As employers we have to train our employees about heat illness, what we're doing on our
site to prevent it, and how to respond in an emergency. It's worth it in the end to
make sure everyone is well-prepared. EMPLOYERS NEED TO TRAIN WORKERS ABOUT HEAT
ILLNESS AND HOW TO PREVENT IT. EMPLOYERS ALSO NEED TO PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES. THIS INCLUDES
TRAINING WORKERS ON WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IF SOMEONE GETS SICK, WHO TO CALL FOR MEDICAL
HELP, AND HOW TO GIVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS TO THE WORKSITE.
Since we learned what the signs are, we can now be alert for early symptoms, in ourselves
and in our coworkers. We also know what to do if one of us gets sick.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACT EARLY. SO BE AWARE OF EARLY SYMPTOMS
WATCH OUT FOR EACHOTHER KNOW WHERE YOU ARE WORKING, AND WHO TO CALL
FOR MEDICAL HELP. At our site we also change the way we do the
work, like starting earlier in the morning to avoid the hot hours. I also give workers
a lighter work load during their first 2 weeks so they can get used to working in the heat.
My employees and I all wear light-colored clothing and hats to stay cool. I learned
early on that when I make sure my employees are staying healthy and cool, their morale
is up and they are more productive, and that benefits the whole company.
THERE IS A LAW IN CALIFORNIA THAT PROTECTS YOU FROM HEAT! ALL WORKERS ARE PROTECTED UNDER
THIS LAW — REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. UNDER THE LAW, EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE:
- PLENTY OF COOL, FRESH WATER, - SHADE AND REST PERIODS
- TIME TO GET USED TO THE HEAT - TRAINING
- A PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO LET YOUR BODY RECUPERATE
AND COOL DOWN WHILE YOU'RE OFF WORK. IF YOU DON'T, YOU COULD BE EASILY AFFECTED
BY THE HEAT THE NEXT DAY. WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME, CONTINUE TO DRINK WATER,
AVOID CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, AND GET PLENTY OF REST.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE REQUIRED WATER, SHADE, REST AND TRAINING, OR YOU DON'T
FEEL PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY? I never knew it was OK to take a few minutes
to get cool in the shade, even on the hottest days. I told my coworkers we should talk to
our boss about it. We went to him as a group and told him that
if we don't rest in the shade, we aren't as productive because we get too hot and tired
and sometimes we get sick from the heat. But if we're able to take breaks, in shaded
areas, throughout the day, it will help keep us safe, and healthy.
It benefits the whole company when we are able to do our jobs well.
IF YOUR EMPLOYER ISN'T GIVING YOU THE PROPER TOOLS TO PREVENT HEAT ILLNESS, YOU CAN CALL
CAL OSHA. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE.
YOU CAN REPORT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT GIVING YOUR NAME.
It's really made a difference having shade in the fields and drinking water often. We
feel better and can work harder. Now we know how to look out for each other
— and more importantly, we know how to save a life.
WATER, REST, SHADE THE WORK CAN'T GET DONE WITHOUT THEM!