THE EMPLOYERS' EDGE
Heat Stress Plans
Along with summer and hot sunny days comes the potential for heat stress related injuries for those working outside or in facilities without air conditioning. Mixing hot humid weather with physical activity can quickly lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and death. The Ontario Ministry of Labour’s website has a Heat Stress Guideline that lists the different heat related disorders, symptoms, treatment and prevention. Employers, who are obligated to take all reasonable precautions for the protection of workers, should have a hot environment policy in place and procedures on how to protect workers from heat related illnesses that can arise. The Guideline will provide employers with a good starting point if you do not already have such a policy in place, or a good review to see if your policy has covered all the preventative measures that should be considered. It also sets out steps for the implementation and training of workers against heat stress such as:
1) Acclimatizing to the heat. Implementing percentages of time each day to become acclimatized to the heat and what to consider for new workers, or those who may have health issues that need to be considered;
2) Engineering Controls, such as reducing physical demands, providing insulating barriers from heat sources, providing air cooling devices, and cool, shaded work and rest areas;
3) Administrative and Work Practice Controls, such as increasing length and frequency of rest breaks, scheduling physically demanding jobs for cooler times of the day, providing cool drinking water and reminding workers to drink a cup every 20 minutes, to train workers to recognize the symptoms of heat stress, and having an emergency response plan and first aid responders in place to deal with any heat related illness; and
4) Protective Clothing such as light clothing to allow air movement and head protection to prevent exposure to direct sunlight.
A hot weather plan should be in place between May 1 and September 30 each year. If you do not have a heat stress control plan, or a humidex based heat response plan, you can gather free information HERE.
As always, once you have the plan in place, you need to train your workers so they understand the importance of the plan, and document, document, document.
Please Note: This blog has been prepared as an informational service for our clients and other interested parties. It is not intended to constitute legal advice, a complete statement of the law or opinion on any subject. Although we endeavour to ensure the accuracy of the content, no one should act upon the information provided without a thorough examination of the law after the facts of a specific situation are fully considered.