How Hot Are You?
Heat Illness Prevention
http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/preventheatillness
Daphne Thaung, MS, CIH
Sarah Meyer, ASP
UCSD Environment, Health & Safety
2009 Working Conditions
Heat kills... your business!
• 16 jobsites were shut down in 2009
for imminent hazards due to heat
• Nearly $ 2 million in penalties and
1158 citations issued in 2009
• District Attorneys may review these
cases for criminal activity
• Bad press/media attention
• 41 confirmed heat illnesses and 1
confirmed heat fatality in 2009
Personal Risk Factors
• May put employees at a higher risk of
developing heat illness:
– Age
– Weight
– Physical fitness/metabolism
– Personal choices
• Prescription Drugs
• Alcohol/Caffeine/Water Consumption
• Food
– Underlying Medical Conditions
Getting Acclimated
Gradually getting used to the heat
• 4 to 14 days working at least 2 hours/day
• Highest risk for heat illness:
– At the start of the summer session
– New employee
– Coming back from illness or vacation
Heat Illness Prevention During Heat Waves
Take Extra Measures - More Water
Drink water more frequently before,
during and after work
Water must be “readily accessible,” but
in no case further than ¼ mile or a fiveminute walk, and must be “fresh, pure,
suitably cool”
Effective replenishment of extra supplies
of water
Spraying body with water/wiping with
wet towels
Heat Illness Prevention
During Heat Waves
• Supervisors/employees watch each other
very closely & provide more frequent
feedback
• Avoid working alone - “buddy system”
• Account for employee whereabouts
throughout the work shift and end of the
day
Heat Illness Prevention During
Heat Waves
SHADE: blockage of direct sunlight
– Take 5 minute breaks though out the day
in shade
– Eat lunch or rest in shade for longer
breaks as well
– Ex: buildings, canopies, umbrellas, trees
Is this adequate shade?
The nearest shaded area must be as close as practicable. Usually this will
mean that shade must be reachable within a 2 1/2 minute walk, but in no case
more than 1/4-mile or a five minute walk away, whichever is shorter.
Examples of Acceptable
Source of Shade
– Take 5 minute breaks
though out the day in
shade
– Eat lunch or rest in
shade for longer
breaks as well
– Ex: buildings,
canopies, umbrellas,
trees
If the temperature exceeds 90 F, shade must actually be present
regardless of the previous day's predicted temperature high.
High Tempt + High Humidity + Physical Work =
Heat Cramps
• Painful spasms of muscles
• Muscles used to perform the work are usually
the ones most susceptible to cramps
• Cause:
– Sweating heavily
– Replacing water not salt
• Symptoms
– Hot, moist skin
– Normal pulse
– Normal to slightly high body
temperature
Heat Cramps Prevention
•
•
•
•
•
Move into shade
Loosen clothing
Drink lightly salted liquids
Wait to see if symptoms go away
Seek medical aid if cramps persist
Heat Exhaustion
• Loss of fluid from sweating when worker has failed
to drink enough fluids
• Cause:
– Body’s heat-control mechanism is overactive
– Loss of body fluids and minerals
• Symptoms:
– Heavy sweating
– Extreme thirst
– Extreme weakness and fatigue
– Giddiness, nausea, or headaches
– Skin is cool, clammy, and moist, complexion pale or flushed
– Body temperature is normal or slightly higher
First Aid Treatment
for Heat Exhaustion
•
•
•
•
•
•
Move victim into shade
Loosen and remove clothing
Cool the victim (wet cloth, spray mist)
Have victim slowly drink water
Elevate victim’s legs
Medical Aid ASAP if victim not better
Heat Stroke
THE MOST SERIOUS STAGE OF HEAT ILLNESS
• Most serious, failure of the body’s internal mechanism to
regulate it’s core temperature
• Cause:
– Body temperature rises to fatal levels
• Symptoms:
– Lack of sweat
– Mental confusion, delirium, loss of concentration, convulsions or
coma
– Rapid pulse
– A body temperature of 106°F or higher
– Hot dry skin, which may be red, mottled, or blush
– Convulsions, seizures, unconsciousness, or death can occur
First Aid Treatment for
Heat Stroke
•
•
•
•
Call for emergency help ASAP
Move victim into shade
Loosen outer clothing
Lower body temperature (massage body with
ice or damp cloth)
• If victim is alert, have them slowly drink water
Heat Illness Signs & Symptoms
Heat Exhaustion
Heavy sweating,
cramps, rapid
pulse,
headache,
nausea,
vomiting
Heat Stroke
NEED MEDICAL
HELP
Dry, red, hot skin,
fainting, high body
temperature,
disoriented,
confused
UCSD Campus Police
• From a campus phone
911
• From a cell phone
858-534-HELP
Emergency Notification Procedure
• Tell the UCSD Police dispatcher that this is a
heat related issue
• If ambulance is not readily available, go to the
nearest Emergency Room
– Thornton or Scripps Hospital on main campus
– Hillcrest
• Notify your supervisor
– Contact Workers’ Compensation at 822-2979
• If hospitalized, notify the UCSD Police
Dispatcher
http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/preventheatillness
In Review: Planning Procedures
 Weather monitoring- heat wave
Acclimization
Water
Shade
Training
Recognizing heat illness symptoms
Contacting emergency medical
services
Providing clear and precise directions
534-HELP
911 (land line)
FALSE
Union Tribune, 6/23/09
A. Children under the age of 4
B. Anyone wearing sun protective clothing
C. All of the above
D. African-American and people with dark
pigmented skin
E. None of the above
Union Tribune, 6/23/09
A. African-American and people with dark
pigmented skin
B. Children under the age of 4
C. Anyone wearing sun protective clothing
D. All of the above
E. None of the above
Union Tribune, 6/23/09
1 ounce…..enough to fill a shot glass
Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Affects 800,000 Americans each year
• Common on exposed parts of the
body
• Common cancer in fair-skinned
people
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Second most common skin cancer
• Afflicts 100,000 people/year
• Arises from the epidermis and can
metastasize
• Tumor appears in sun-exposed areas
• May be inherited
Melanoma
•
•
•
•
•
Most serious form of skin cancer
42,000 new cases reported to ACS
Early stages, almost 100% curable
Advance stages, can be deadly
Malignant tumor originates in
melanocytes (four types)
• Heavily concentrates in moles
Ways to Reduce Risk of
Skin Cancer
• Wear Protective Clothing
• Wear Hats with Wide-brimmed
• Use Sunscreen on Exposed Skin
(>SPF 15)
• Avoid Midday Sun Exposure (10am-4pm)
• Avoid Artificial UVR Sources
• Be Aware of Photosensitizing Medications
• Perform Skin Examination Each Month
How much more UVB-absorbing
ability does an SPF 30 sunscreen
offer than an SPF 15 sunscreen?
A. Twice as much
B. Fifteen times as much
C. Thirty times as much
D. Four percent more
E. Fifteen percent more
Union Tribune, 6/23/09
How much more UVB-absorbing
ability does an SPF 30 sunscreen
offer than an SPF 15 sunscreen?
A. Twice as much
B. Fifteen times as much
C. Thirty times as much
D. Four percent more
E. Fifteen percent more
Union Tribune, 6/23/09
monthly
Perform Monthly Skin Check
Sunscreen Protection Factor
• Use products with SPF 15 or higher,that
block UVA and UVB (titanium dioxide, zinc
oxide, or avobenzone)
• Shake container well
• Apply generously and evenly (Ears too!)
• Apply 20 minutes before sun exposure
• Reapply every two hours or when wet
• Use sunscreen even on cloudy & cool
days
Poikiloderma
What’s one of the most important body
parts that needs sun protection?
Eye Protection
• UVB contributes to cataracts, visionclouding clumps in the lens of the eye
• Wear sunglasses with labels meeting
ANSI (95% UVB, 60% UVA)
• Choose large-frame wraparound style
In Conclusion:
Heat Related Illnesses are
Preventable
Recognize early warning signs
and take proactive action
Skin Cancer Is Preventable
Take Care of Your Skin by Using
Good Skin Care Methods and
Products EVERYDAY
References
American Academy of Dermatology, Skin Cancer-An
Undeclared Epidemic, 1994
National Institutes of Health Consensus Development
Conference Statement, Sunlight, Ultraviolet Radiation,
and the Skin, 1989
Ferrini R., Perlman M, Hill L. Skin Protection from
Ultraviolet Light Exposure American College of
Preventive Medicine Practice Policy Statement
Consumer Reports, July 2000
The Skin Cancer Foundation: http://www.skincancer.org
Cal/OSHA Reporter, June 14, 2002 & July 6 and 29, 2007
http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html
http://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/
Any Questions???