Training Electricians on Heat-Related Illnesses

Summertime’s soaring temperatures and scorching sun can lead to possible dehydration, lost productivity, and hospitalization for an electrical contractor’s field workforce. Heat-related illnesses, however, are preventable if the necessary steps are taken to safeguard workers, according to the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA).

For a program to be successful, however, a company’s management team must be fully committed to providing effective controls, according to OSHA. Here are some tips on keeping your workers safe when working on outdoor construction sites and other areas where they may be exposed to extreme heat and sunlight.

1. Look out for new workers. Almost half of heat-related deaths occur on a worker’s first day on the job, and more than 70% of heat-related deaths occur during a worker’s first week. To protect new apprentices on an outdoor job site, schedule the workers for shorter shifts to minimize the amount of time exposed to the heat. Also, give them more frequent rest breaks and monitor them closely for any symptoms of heat-related illness
2. Use the buddy system. Don’t allow new workers to work alone and train them about heat stress, the importance of rest and water and symptoms of heat-related illness. Also, never leave workers by themselves if they are experiencing any symptoms. Instead, allow them to stop working and initiate first aid.
3. Let workers get acclimated. Those employees who are not used to being physically active or working in hot environments must be allowed time to acclimate to the heat. During their first few days on the job site, they must be encouraged to drink adequate fluids, work shorter shifts, take frequent breaks, and identify any symptoms of heat-related illness.
4. Empower managers. When possible, managers should have the ability to make changes to a workload and schedule. For example, they can assign outdoor work for the morning or enable workers to take shorter shifts with frequent rest breaks in the shade. To determine the amount of heat stress a worker is enduring, they can calculate the risks in OSHA's Heat Stress Calculator. 
5. Monitor workers throughout the day. Because weather conditions can change rapidly, ensure whether or not heat stress is too high for each individual worker throughout the day. If one of your electricians is showing symptoms of heat-related illness, encourage him or her to get rest, shade, and fluids. If electricians are working outside for two hours or more, employers should consider providing access to fluids containing electrolytes. When working in the direct heat and sun, workers should try to drink one cup of water every 20 minutes, not just when they are thirsty.
6. Train managers and workers. All supervisors and trainers should be trained on first aid and heat-related symptoms. For example, they must know how to contact emergency medical services, be aware of fluid replacement guidelines and implement appropriate work and rest cycles, according to OSHA. When taking a break, they should move from the job site to a cooler environment such as a shady area, air-conditioned vehicle or building, area with fans and misting devices, or a close-by building or tent.

By protecting new electrical workers from heat-related dangers on a job site, electricians can ensure that they go home safely at the end of each work day. They can also improve productivity and reduce the risk for hospitalizations or lost productivity on the job site.

Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected].