Much of California is experiencing high temperatures with predictions of extended high heat through next week, so this is a good time to review heat safety information and recommendations.
Please take appropriate heat illness prevention measures throughout the holiday weekend and beyond, especially those who are working or spending time outdoors. You can find UC ANR information and resources about preventing heat illness at https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucanr/News/Heat/ and https://safety.ucanr.edu/Programs/Heat_Illness_Prevention/.
For current weather alert information, Cal/OSHA recommends the NOAA Weather Alerts page at: http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1
Cal/OSHA sent a reminder for employers to protect outdoor workers from heat illness that offers the following recommendations:
- Plan – Develop and implement an effective written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
- Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
- Water – Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitably cool and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour and encourage workers to do so.
- Rest – 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.
- Shade – Provide proper shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Workers have the right to request and be provided shade to cool off at any time.