Quick Start Guide
Chapter 40: Heat Stress Hazard Assessment and Control

Program: Heat Stress Program
NEW 03/13
URL: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/CH40.html
Revision Record: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/Pub3000Changes.html

Who needs to know about these requirements?

The requirements of the Heat Stress program apply to:

• Berkeley Lab employees, casual and participating visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors

Whenever they are:

• Doing field work in hot environments
• Exerting themselves in the heat
• Wearing heavy clothing or PPE that could raise the body temperature

Why?

If left unchecked, heat stress can lead to heat illness, some types of heat illness can be more serious than others:

• Heat rash and heat cramps that can cause mild to severe discomfort
• Heat exhaustion which is caused by the body’s inability to sufficiently cool itself, which can lead to fainting
• Heat stroke, which is very serious and can be fatal

What you need to do before performing work:

• Define work/protocols.
• Analyze heat hazards. Perform risk assessment.
• Ensure that impacted employees are aware of the symptoms of heat illness.
• Ensure that impacted employees know how to respond to symptoms of heat illness.
• Be aware that acclimatization is an important factor, and adjust workloads accordingly.
• Understand any physical or medical issues (such as medications) that could increase susceptibility to heat stress
• Develop controls.
• Comply with the requirements of this program when performing work in warm environments.
• Make sufficient drinking water available.
• Provide shaded areas for rest.
• Wear comfortable lightweight clothing if possible. 
• Adjust workloads and schedules to account for acclimatization, and to take advantage of cooler periods of the day.
• For the vast majority of processes performed in warm environments (e.g., landscaping,  outdoor maintenance, field work), the Berkeley Lab Job Hazards Analysis (JHA) process satisfies  requirements for training, authorization, and documentation.  Based on the completed JHA, an online heat stress course may be required (EHS0075, Heat Stress Prevention).

Where to find out more:

Berkeley Lab ES&H Manual, Heat Stress Hazard Assessment and Control 

Whom to contact for help:

• Daniel Best, the EHSS Heat Stress Subject Matter Expert, ext. 7246