Heat Illness Prevention Plan

1. Purpose and scope

This plan describes how [Company name] protects employees from heat. There is no federal OSHA heat standard in force; OSHA cites serious heat hazards under the General Duty Clause and runs a National Emphasis Program on heat that targets construction. This plan follows OSHA and NIOSH recommendations and the construction standards on drinking water, first aid and training.

The plan applies on days when the heat index is forecast at 80°F or above — what OSHA's emphasis program calls a heat priority day — and whenever workers wear heavy PPE in warm conditions.

OSH Act § 5(a)(1) — General Duty Clause

2. Responsibilities

[Plan administrator (name and title)] is responsible for this plan, phone [Plan administrator phone]. The plan administrator makes sure supplies are available, supervisors are trained, and the plan is reviewed every year before the hot season.

Supervisors and foremen who carry out this plan on site: [Supervisors and foremen who carry out this plan on site]

Every worker is expected to drink water often, take cool-down rest when needed, watch out for co-workers, and report symptoms right away.

3. Drinking water

Potable drinking water is provided at every job site. On hot days there is enough for each worker to drink about one cup every 15 to 20 minutes (about one quart per hour), and supervisors remind workers to drink before they feel thirsty.

[How drinking water is provided]

29 CFR 1926.51

4. Rest and shade

Shade or a cool area is available near the work for rest breaks. Workers may take a cool-down rest whenever they need it. On very hot days, supervisors schedule more frequent breaks and move heavy work to cooler hours.

[How shade or cooling is provided]

Workers report heat illness symptoms in themselves or a co-worker to a supervisor immediately. No one is disciplined for reporting symptoms or for taking a cool-down rest.

OSH Act § 5(a)(1) — General Duty Clause

5. Checking the weather

[Who checks the forecast and heat index, and how]

When a heat advisory or excessive heat warning is issued, supervisors put the high-heat procedures in place for that day.

6. Acclimatization and observation

Most heat deaths happen in a worker's first days on the job. New workers and workers returning after a week or more away build up their heat exposure gradually, following the NIOSH schedule:

How workers are observed: [How workers are observed on hot days]

• New workers: no more than 20% of the usual heat exposure on day 1, increasing by no more than 20% each day.
• Experienced workers returning: no more than 50% on day 1, 60% on day 2, 80% on day 3 and 100% on day 4.

OSHA — Heat: protecting new workers

7. Emergency response

Workers reach a supervisor this way: [How workers reach a supervisor during the shift]

Designated to call 911: [Who is designated to call 911]. Anyone who sees a worker with signs of severe heat illness calls 911 right away.

Directions for emergency responders: [How you give emergency responders directions to each job site]

• Signs of heat stroke (confusion, slurred speech, fainting, seizures, hot skin, no sweating): call 911, move the worker to shade, cool them with water, ice or wet cloths, and stay with them until help arrives.
• Signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps): stop work, rest in shade, drink water, loosen clothing, and keep watching; call 911 if it gets worse or doesn't improve.
• Never leave a sick worker alone and never send them home without offering first aid or emergency medical services.

29 CFR 1926.50

8. Training

Workers and supervisors are trained before the hot season on heat illness signs and first aid, drinking water, rest and acclimatization, reporting symptoms, and this plan.

29 CFR 1926.21

9. Reporting and review

A work-related heat fatality is reported to OSHA within 8 hours, and an inpatient hospitalization within 24 hours. [Plan administrator (name and title)] reviews this plan every year and will update it if OSHA adopts a final heat standard.

29 CFR 1904.39