FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Valley temperatures are expected to soar across the San Joaquin Valley an excessive heat watch remains in place beginning Wednesday. Forecasters warning of dangerous temperatures expected to exceed beyond 110 degrees. The state’s most recent heat wave prompting the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of California to protect outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.
“Employers have to take time to make sure their heat illness prevention procedures are effective to protect all outdoor workers from getting sick during this period of excessive heat,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Jeff Killip.
The state government agency has established standards specifically applied for preventing heat-related illness to all outdoor work environments. According to Cal/OHSA, state law requires employers to provide outdoor workers with supplies and resources including the following:
- fresh water
- access to shade at 80 degrees and whenever requested by a worker
- cool-down rest breaks
- regular breaks
- maintain a written prevention plan with training on the signs of heat illness
- information focused on what to do in case of an emergency
If outdoor work sites reach or go over 95 degrees, Cal/OSHA has additional standard requirements in place to protect workers in certain industries including agriculture, construction, and landscaping.
Valley and state employers with outdoor workers in all industries must take the following steps to prevent heat illness:
- 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.
