USEPA Standard Diver Decontamination Procedures
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EPA’s Use of Online Contaminated Water Dive PSD FATALITY Planning Tools Immersion Pulmonary Edema USEPA Standard Diver Decontamination Procedures Dehydration and Diving Avoiding Heat Related InjuriesPSDiver Monthly Issue 95 Greetings, experiencing drought, and earlier in June, deluges flooded Minnesota and Florida. ~ Star Tribune It is definitely summertime in Texas. The heat here is about as bad as ever but recently we have added a few We have seen and experienced a lot more hot days than short rain showers. Add the humidity to our heat and it cold in the last few years and statistics for this year can get outright dangerous. validate that experience. Since January 1 of this year there have been more that 40,000 new high temperature Last year I spent some time in The United Arab Emirates. records set. When we were there, it was just coming on their hot season. We started commenting that it was not much It is hot and almost guaranteed to get worse as the different than being at home … it took a little while for the summer progresses. Because we do not wait for more obvious to hit. We don’t like it hot at home either. When comfortable conditions when called, we must be prepared it got to 122 degrees we gave up and conceded the win. to protect ourselves and our team members from heat related injuries. In my youth, I could handle the heat a lot better than I seem to now. It may be that with age comes a certain The following recommendations are from the CDC. prerogative to not work or play outside and with that a loss of tolerance. Whatever – I like my air conditioning. NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics Having claimed that, I am just a karmic phone call away from responding to a call in the middle of the day in the Heat Stress worst of conditions and locations. Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to I once was ambushed in a department store parking lot, extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and had a microphone stuck in my face and asked “What do injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat you think about global warming?” My blank stare and exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also garbled response was something less than coherent. increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in Afterwards I thought about it and now have my response sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness. ready if I get the chance again. This is it. “By the time we Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact are convinced it is real, it will be too late.” with hot surfaces or steam. So far this year, more than 2.1 million acres have Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers burned in wildfires, more than 113 million people in and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, the U.S. were in areas under extreme heat bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, advisories last Friday, two-thirds of the country is boiler room workers, factory workers, and others. PSDiver Monthly Issue 95 2 Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who First Aid are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that stroke: may be affected by extreme heat. Call 911 and notify their supervisor. Move the sick worker to a cool shaded area. Prevention of heat stress in workers is important. Cool the worker using methods such as: Employers should provide training to workers so they Soaking their clothes with water. understand what heat stress is, how it affects their health Spraying, sponging, or showering them with water. and safety, and how it can be prevented. Fanning their body. Types of Heat Stress Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an Heat Stroke excessive loss of the water and salt, usually Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It through excessive sweating. Workers most prone occurs when the body becomes unable to control its to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the high blood pressure, and those working in a hot sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool environment. down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to Symptoms 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: disability if emergency treatment is not given. Heavy sweating Extreme weakness or fatigue Symptoms Dizziness, confusion Symptoms of heat stroke NIOSH Fast Facts Nausea include: Clammy, moist skin Hot, dry skin or profuse Protecting Pale or flushed complexion sweating Yourself from Muscle cramps Hallucinations Heat Stress Slightly elevated body temperature Chills Fast and shallow breathing Print or order Throbbing headache this free card for High body temperature easy access to First Aid Confusion/dizziness important safety Treat a worker suffering from heat exhaustion with Slurred speech information the following: Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area. PSDiver Monthly Issue 95 3 Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages. First Aid Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge Workers with heat cramps should: bath. Stop all activity, and sit in a cool place. Drink clear juice or a sports beverage. Heat Syncope Do not return to strenuous work for a few hours Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or after the cramps subside because further exertion dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying Seek medical attention if any of the following position. Factors that may contribute to heat apply: syncope include dehydration and lack of The worker has heart problems. acclimatization. The worker is on a low-sodium diet. The cramps do not subside within one hour. Symptoms Symptoms of heat syncope include: Heat Rash Light-headedness Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive Dizziness sweating during hot, humid weather. Fainting Symptoms First Aid Symptoms of heat rash include: Workers with heat syncope should: Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or Sit or lie down in a cool place when they begin to small blisters. feel symptoms. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow beverage. creases. Heat Cramps First Aid Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot Workers experiencing heat rash should: during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes Try to work in a cooler, less humid environment the body's salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels when possible. in muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps Keep the affected area dry. may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort. Symptoms Muscle pain or spasms usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs. PSDiver Monthly Issue 95 4 Recommendations for Employers When these exposures cannot be avoided, workers Employers should take the following steps to should take the following steps to prevent heat protect workers from heat stress: stress: Schedule maintenance and repair jobs in hot areas Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable for cooler months. clothing such as cotton. Schedule hot jobs for the cooler part of the day. Avoid non-breathing synthetic clothing. Acclimatize workers by exposing them for Gradually build up to heavy work. progressively longer periods to hot work Schedule heavy work during the coolest parts environments. of day. Reduce the physical demands of workers. Take more breaks in extreme heat and Use relief workers or assign extra workers for humidity. physically demanding jobs. Take breaks in the shade or a cool area when Provide cool water or liquids to workers. possible. Avoid alcohol, and drinks with large amounts of Drink water frequently. Drink enough water caffeine or sugar. that you never become thirsty. Approximately 1 cup every 15-20 minutes. Provide rest periods with water breaks. Avoid alcohol, and drinks with large amounts Provide cool areas for use during break periods. of caffeine or sugar. Monitor workers who are at risk of heat stress. Be aware that protective clothing or personal Provide heat stress training that includes protective equipment may increase the risk of information about: heat stress. Worker risk Monitor your physical condition and that of Prevention your coworkers. Symptoms The importance of monitoring yourself and WE must be prepared for heat, just as much as we are coworkers for symptoms prepared for a water response. Don’t get caught unprepared. Treatment If you would like to Personal protective equipment Stay hydrated and Dive Safe! discuss this topic Recommendations for Workers Mark Phillips or any other, join Editor / Publisher our discussion Workers should avoid exposure to extreme heat, PSDiver Monthly group: sun exposure, and high humidity when possible. CLICK HERE TO JOIN PSDiver Monthly Issue 95 5 For EPA operations, contaminated water is defined as any Special To PSDiver body of water that is suspected of containing chemical or biological agents in concentrations that could potentially USEPA Standard Decontamination harm an unprotected diver and/or surface support personnel. Unless a body of water is known to be clean, Procedures some degree of contamination must be assumed.