Heat Stress Prevention - Questions To Ask
During daily
Tool-Box Talk and training sessions, use this set of questions to check that
all your safety measures are in place.
Refer to the
CS Leaflet: ‘Supervisor’s Responsibilities
For Heat Stress Prevention’.
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QUESTION
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YES
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NO
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1.
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Team Briefing
At
the start of every day, does the foreman always give a Tool-Box Talk?
During
hotter weather, does it regularly include heat stress prevention topics?
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2.
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Monitoring Temperature & Humidity
Does
the company regularly monitor temperature & humidity (or have access to
regular updated monitoring reports) to check if you are in the Red or Amber
heat stress zones?
Tip: If
you do not know the heat stress zones, refer to the Saudi Aramco Construction
Safety Manual Part 1 Chapter 13
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3.
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Changed Working Hours
During
hotter months, has the company changed the working hours, where possible, to
avoid the hottest times of the day?
If
not, have they organized enough regular rest breaks when the heat stress
zones hit Red & Amber?
Rest
Periods
Given that on an average summers day
(normally Red & Amber zones) crews should be working:
Red
Zone
20 minutes
work: 10 minutes rest
Amber Zone
30 minutes work:
10 minutes rest
For
an 8 hour working day
For a 10 hour working day (2 hours overtime)
Red Zone
5 ½ hours work: 2½ hours
rest
7 hours work: 3 hours
rest
Amber
6 hours work: 2 hours rest
7½
hours work: 2½ hours rest
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4.
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Shaded Or Cool Rest Areas
Does
the team have a place which is shaded from the sun to rest or have a
‘chill-out area’ to relax?
Note: Ideally the shaded area should be air
conditioned where possible.
What
are the arrangements for lunch break – do employees have access to a building
with AC to rest?
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5.
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Water Supply
Is
there an adequate supply of cooled drinking water nearby where you are
working?
Note: The minimum requirement is for a cooled
water supply in an insulated container within 100m of the workers.
Tip: Carry a personal water bottle that
you can regularly refill as this will encourage you to drink more frequently. Use a new bottle each day.
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6.
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Clothing.
Have
all employees been provided with a suitable hat (light color with wide brim) and
baggy or loose clothing?
Are
they wearing their hat in the sun?
Tip: When in the sun, always wear your hat to
protect you from the heat of the sun and possible long term health effects
such as cancer.
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7.
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Stop Work Notice.
Do
all employees know that they have the right to immediately stop working if
they believe their health or life (or that of a colleague or passer-by) is at
risk due to unsafe working conditions, such as heat stress?
Tip:
All workers have the right to stop work
where seriously concerned about safety.
They then report it to their foreman for appropriate action to be
taken to make work safer. Then they
can start working again if safe to do so.
In the summer months, workers at risk of
heat stress should not work alone.
Ensure
all employees are informed during orientation, safety training & Tool-Box
Talks of their right to stop work due to serious safety concerns.
Any employee experiencing symptoms of a
heat-related illness shall
immediately stop work and report to his supervisor. The employee
affected shall be allowed to fully recover in an appropriate recovery area
before returning to work.
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8.
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First-Aid
Have
all the workers been trained in how to recognize heat stress symptoms, basic
first aid measures and are aware of the nearest medical facility and
emergency contact arrangements?
Does
at least one team member carry a charged mobile phone with the emergency
contact numbers (Safety Officer, emergency medical services & Project Manager’s
numbers)?
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9.
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Complaints & Suggestions
Does
your foreman encourage complaints & suggestions from team members about
heat stress safety each day at Tool-Box Talks?
Does
he respond to complaints and improve the safety measures above?
Tip: Get
all employees to save the Safety Officer’s phone number and encourage them to
contact him if they have any concerns or complaints about safety.
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The 3 Biggest Concerns
These
are the biggest areas of non-compliance in Community Services at present. Ensure your company implements all the
advice given above and does not risk the lives of their employees. Poor
management of heat stress can result in serious illness or death.
v Inadequate Rest Breaks - Ignoring
the Red & Amber Zones requirements for increased rest breaks.
v Inadequate Access To Cool Water
v Inadequate Emergency Arrangements
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All
workers must be adequately trained in basic first aid for heat stress and
have emergency numbers saved on their mobile phones.
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REFERENCE
Update::20-Jan-2016
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