Working In Hot Weather Or Hot Workplace Environments (Page 3 of 7) in pdf

d) Classify the work:

Examples

Rest

Sitting (quietly or with moderate arm movement)

Light Work

Sitting or standing to control machines, performing light hand or arm

work (eg. Using a table saw); occasionally walking; driving

Moderate Work

Walking about with moderate lifting and pushing or pulling; walking at

moderate pace; eg. Scrubbing in a standing position.

Heavy Work

Pick and shovel work; digging; carrying; pushing/pulling heavy loads;

walking at fast pace; eg. Carpenter sawing by hand.

Very Heavy Work

Very intense activity at fast to maximum pace; eg. Shoveling wet sand

e) Based on the determined Humidex Level and the work classification, administer controls

as outlined in Table 2.

f) Enter all readings in the “Field Temperature and Humidity Measurements” form

(attached).

Upon completion of the work, the supervisor of the work will be responsible for submitting

the Form to the Facilities Safety Coordinator, OHS, for filing for a minimum period of two

years.

g) Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment:

Personal Protective Equipment must be worn as required by the task being performed. If

possible, workers should wear light clothing that allows air to move freely and sweat to

evaporate. For workers who wear cotton overalls on top of summer clothes, add 5

C Humidex to

the workplace Humidex measurement. For different clothing configurations, estimate correction

factor by comparing them to cotton overalls (eg. gloves, hard hat, apron, protective sleeves might

be equivalent to a little less than half the evaporation resistance as overalls, so add 1

C or 2

Humidex)

If a hard hat is not required, the worker should wear a light coloured hat preferably with a big

rim to provide maximum shading. Sunglasses with a UVA and UVB protection should be worn

as well as sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 which should be applied

regularly. If applicable, appropriate apparel to prevent burns from hot conductive or radiant

materials should be worn.

2. Work in hot environments should not be conducted alone. A buddy system should be used to

monitor symptoms of heat related illness and ensure adherence to the program (i.e. taking water

breaks).

3. Jobs requiring heavy work should be scheduled at cooler times of the day.

4. In situations such as heat waves (3 or more days of temperatures of 32 ۫ C or more) where the

worker will be working continuously in a hot environment, supervisors are responsible for

ensuring their workers are acclimatized based on the following criteria:

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