Heat Illness Prevention Checklist
Are you doing enough to keep your employees safe from summer heat? Get this helpful checklist with some practical ways to plan for and prevent heat-related illnesses at your business.
Heat Illness
Prevention
Heat-related illnesses such as heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke
are a very real threat for workers during the summer months.
Extreme heat can pose trouble for employers. While there’s no federal law specifically about heat illness, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires every employer to provide “a place of employment … free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.” This is known as the General Duty Clause, and it obligates you to protect your employee from pretty much any danger, whether it’s the coronavirus, summer heat, or monsters.
On top of that, 28 states have plans (such as CalOSHA) that meet or exceed OSHA’s hazard mitigation requirements. Some states have specific regulations regarding working in the heat.
Here’s a helpful checklist with some practical ways to plan for and prevent heat-related illnesses.
Familiarize yourself with the
National Weather Service Heat Index
The NWS Heat Index is a valuable measurement tool for heat-related workforce risk. The scale ranges from 80º F and
40% humidity (defined as the low end of “Caution”) to 110ºF and 100% humidity (far into “Extreme Danger” territory).
Caution 80°F – 90°F
Fatigue possible with prolonged
exposure and/or physical activity
Extreme Caution 90°F – 103°F
Heat stroke, heat cramps, or heat
exhaustion possible with prolonged
exposure and/or physical activity
Danger 103°F – 124°F
Heat cramps or heat exhaustion
likely, and heat stroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or
physical activity
Extreme Danger 125°F
Heat stroke highly likely
Heat Illness Checklist
| Water | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is there plenty of fresh, cool drinking water located as close as possible to the workers? | |||
| Has someone been designated to check and make sure water is not running low? | |||
| Are water coolers refilled throughout the day? |
| Shade | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is shade or air conditioning available for breaks and if workers need to recover? |
| Worker Training/Heat Awareness | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is your team aware of the common signs and symptoms of heat-related illness? | |||
| Do your employees understand the importance of acclimatization? | |||
| Can your team perform the proper precautions to prevent heat-related illness? | |||
| Does your team understand the importance of drinking water frequently (even when they are not thirsty)? | |||
| Is your team equipped to perform the proper steps if someone is having symptoms? |
| Emergencies | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does everyone know who to notify if there is an emergency? | |||
| Does everyone know who will provide first aid? | |||
| Can workers explain their location if they need to call an ambulance? |
| Knowledgeable Person | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is there a knowledgeable person at the worksite who is well-informed about heat-related illness and able to determine appropriate work/rest schedules and can conduct physiological monitoring as necessary? | |||
| Are workers in the high or very high/extreme heat index risk levels being physiologically monitored as necessary? |
| Reminders | Yes | No | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remind your workers to drink water often. | |||
| Encourage teams to report heat-related symptoms early. | |||
| Remind teams to take time to rest in shade. | |||
| Ask workers to help monitor one another. |
How Did You Do?
The more “no” boxes you checked, the higher a chance for heat illness problems within your workforce. Remember, OSHA pays close attention to heat illness, especially when a case results in hospitalization.
This checklist is a sample of the forms available in Novara Flex for you to use and customize to fit your policies and procedures. Imagine having this checklist with you in the palm of your hand, with automatic alerts and follow-ups generated with each inspection.
Novara’s technology, training, and consulting solutions are here to help you develop an efficient heat illness program that’s engaging and easy for your employees to follow.
We can show you how.
Forklift Inspection Checklist
Learn how to prevent forklift workplace accidents with this helpful checklist.
Create and Deliver Engaging Training Content
Does your training content catch your employees attention? Use this guide to create content they will engage with and remember.
10 Questions to Measure Employee Engagement in Your Safety Program
Use this list of questions to determine your employees's feel empowered to uphold workplace safety
Book A Demo
You can deliver exceptional EHS Programs with less effort. Contact us today.
