To help minimize the number of occupational injuries and illnesses to heat related exposures, OSHA has issued a National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Heat Stress Prevention, and this could be something that they evaluate during an audit. To read more about the NEP, click on the following link – CPL_03-00-024.pdf (osha.gov)

There are four types of injuries employees can have during the summer and all four are preventable through effective safety measures. They include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The intent of the NEP is to help reduce employee exposures to these injuries.

These are the main parts of an effective Heat Stress Safety Program, especially when it comes to OSHA –

  1. Heat Stress Policy and the Heat Index. The policy details the companies’ procedures that leaders of an organization should take as well as employees during summary months to mitigate their risk to an injury or illness. EHD’s Risk Control Department can provide a copy of a policy if you need one as a template. To assist with these procedures, employers should follow the Heat Index to quantify the level of heat exposure that employees could have during a normal workday or shift. Here is a link to review the Heat Index –  What is the heat index? (weather.gov)
  2. Employee training – The next thing OSHA could ask for is employee training records demonstrating that employees were trained on the Heat Stress Policy and the Heat Index. Training documentation can be in the form of a formal training sign in sheet, a “toolbox” talk sign in sheet, or an online tracking excel spreadsheet.
  3. Personal Gear – Along with training, there are forms of personal gear that can be given to employees to help. Examples of personal gear are, cooling jackets, face wraps, neck wraps, etc. Most of these can be purchased online and are fairly inexpensive.
  4. Incident Reporting – An if there is an injury or illness, the incident will need to be reported as a Workers’ Compensation Claim and then listed on your OSHA 300 log and OSHA 300A Summary form. If an employee is hospitalized, then OSHA must be contacted with-in 24hrs of the employee being submitted to the hospital. If you are not sure how to report incidents to OSHA, please contact us at 1-800-544-7292 and ask for someone in the Risk Control Department.