Northern California is experiencing a heat wave including several consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) advises employers to take precautionary measures to protect outdoor workers from heat illness.
California has the most extensive heat illness prevention regulations in the United States to keep outdoor workers safe, according to Cal/OSHA.
Once temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide:
- Access to adequate shaded areas
- At least 2-1/2 gallons of water per 10-hour shift
- Training on heat illness prevention
- An emergency plan
Heat procedures become more stringent for certain jobs when temperatures surpass 95 degrees Fahrenheit -- Which put workers in construction, farming, and landscaping at greater risk.
During those times supervisors must also:
- Observe workers for signs and symptoms of heat illness
- Remind workers to drink water frequently
- Provide close supervision during the first 14 days of work
- Have effective communications systems in place in the event of an emergency
Employees with workplace safety questions or complaints about heat illness or other related matters, they may contact the Cal/OSHA district office in their region to file a confidential report by clicking here.