Weather Hazard Materials
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TRAIN-THE-TRAINER: WEATHER HAZARDS This material was produced under a Susan Harwood Training Grant #SH-27667-SH5 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U. S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S. Government. Objectives: Educate workers about weather and environmental hazards and the illnesses and injuries that could result if the proper safety measures are not taken to prevent/reduce exposure. Explore the reasons why workers do not pay close attention to the weather as a hazard at the workplace. To be able to identify environmental hazards, symptoms of heat and cold illnesses, first aid and methods of prevention. Icebreaker: The hat of questions Place different questions in sheets of paper and put them in a hat. Using a wheel have participants stand around and spin the wheel. When it stops, the person that the needle from the wheel is pointing at will have to pick a question from the hat and answer it. This will be repeated until each question from the hat has been asked. This activity will serve as an icebreaker and pre-test. Activity 1: Introduction to the Silent Hazards In any workplace, there are hazards that are easy to identify, those that pose an obvious threat to the safety of those that perform that type of job. For example, when using a ladder, most people are aware that being in high places can lead to falls, or that there’s always the potential for cuts when using a power saw. However, there are hazards that are not as easy to identify and more often than not, workers ignore or disregard their existence, the weather is one of those hazards that workers oftentimes do not pay attention to. Many day laborers have to work outdoors, which means weather conditions are going to interfere with having a safe working environment. Moreover, some weather conditions pose a serious risk to their health and safety due to different factors such as the individual’s health, the interference of weather on a particular task or in the workers ability to have a grip on tools and equipment, changes in the environment that affect the work space, etc. For that reason, it is important to pay close attention to how the weather conditions my affect the workspace and how workers can protect themselves from weather and environmental hazards at their jobs. 1 This training will focus on identifying environmental or weather hazards, symptoms associated with heat and cold illnesses, first aid and methods of prevention. Activity 2: Weather Hazards Through the use of information cards, we will review some of the most common health risks that workers are exposed to in different weather conditions. Each card contains information about an illness caused by weather conditions, the symptoms associated with the illness and a list of first aid measures. There are illustrations of the symptoms of the illness on the back of the card. Note that the cards do not have any preventative information. Each participant will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a plan to prevent becoming victims of any of the following illnesses: heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat cramps, heat rash, UV radiation, hypothermia, cold water immersion, frostbite, trench foot, and chilblains. Explain to the participants that day laborers can be exposed to a lot of different weather hazards, depending on where they are working, the season, the time of day and the duration of time they’re working outdoors and how prepared they are for that environment. During the summer months, workers are at risk to the health effects of extreme heat, such as heat stroke, heat rash and heat exhaustion, as well as ultraviolet (UV) radiation. On the other hand, during the winter months, workers are at risk to the effects of extreme cold, including hypothermia and frostbite. Ask participants: What is the most extreme weather condition that you have been exposed to at work? Give participants room to respond. Once workers have responded, ask them if they have fallen sick or have been hurt because of the weather or temperature in which they were working. Say to the participants that it is important to talk to the workers about weather and environmental hazards so that they can learn to identify such hazards and how to protect themselves from dangerous situations due to the weather. HEAT STRESS Overview First we will explore the illnesses caused by hot temperatures. Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers. Ask the participants: Why do you think heat can increase the risk of injuries at the workplace? Possible answers may include: heat it may result in sweaty palms, 2 fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness. Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam. Has anyone in this room worked in very hot work environments? Let participants respond. Ask those participants to share how they felt; did they get dizzy? Get a headache? Did they faint? Allow time for them to share how the heat affected their bodies. As, who is affected by heat? Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat. Additionally, workers that are not used to hot weather might be at a greater risk. Prevention of heat stress in workers is important. We will review what heat stress is, how it affects workers health and safety, and how it can be prevented. Types of Heat Stress Starting from the least severe form of heat illness, show participants images that depict the illness. Each card will contain a description of the illness, symptoms and first aid measures on one side and images on the other so that participants can look at the images while the facilitator reads the information from the back of the card. Heat Rash Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. Symptoms Symptoms of heat rash include: Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases. First Aid Workers experiencing heat rash should: Try to work in a cooler, less humid environment when possible. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort. Heat Cramps Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles 3 cause painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. Symptoms Muscle pain or spasms usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs. First Aid Workers with heat cramps should: Stop all activity, and sit in a cool place. Drink clear juice or a sports beverage. Do not return to strenuous work for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Seek medical attention if any of the following apply: o The worker has heart problems. o The worker is on a low-sodium diet. o The cramps do not subside within one hour. Heat Syncope Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization. Symptoms Symptoms of heat syncope include: Light-headedness Dizziness Fainting First Aid Workers with heat syncope should: Sit or lie down in a cool place when they begin to feel symptoms. Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports beverage. Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Workers most prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment. Symptoms Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: 4 Heavy sweating Extreme weakness or fatigue Dizziness, confusion Nausea Clammy, moist skin Pale or flushed complexion Muscle cramps Slightly elevated body temperature Fast and shallow breathing First Aid Treat a worker suffering from heat exhaustion with the following: Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area. Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages. Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath. Heat Stroke Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given. Symptoms Symptoms of heat stroke include: Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Hallucinations Chills Throbbing headache High body temperature Confusion/dizziness Slurred speech First Aid Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke: Call 911 and notify their supervisor.