In February of this year, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) alongside the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published the first national voluntary consensus standard addressing heat stress for workers in construction and demolition operations.
ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024 outlines the following all pertaining to heat stress:
- Management Programs
- Acclimatization Plans
- Risk Assessments
- Controls
- Training
The tools explained in this standard can be used not only in the construction and demolition fields but all outdoor occupations and facilities experiencing excess heat in their work environment.
Biden-Harris Administration Proposed Rule for Extreme Heat
More recently, the Biden-Harris administration announced a proposed rule to protect indoor and outdoor workers from extreme heat. If finalized, this new rule could help protect millions of workers from heat-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.
The proposed rule would require the employer to:
- Create injury and illness prevention plans
- Evaluate all heat risks
- Implement requirements for controlling the hazard
Why Does This Matter?
Thousands of heat-related illnesses occur on jobsites every year, with over 4,800 injuries reported, from 2021-2022, due to extreme environmental heat (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
These new standards mark important milestones as a new industry consensus because prior to this, there was no federal regulation focused on heat stress. The proposed Biden-Harris standard would apply to employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction.
What You Can Do
Be aware of the risks associated with your job, so you and your company can come up with a plan to mitigate the risks of injury of heat-related illness and subsequent accidents.
Many risk factors of heat stress are compounded onto the overall temperature of the air due to occupational demand, including:
- Age
- Preexisting Diseases
- Certain medications (both prescriptions and OTC)
- Poor Circulation
- Overexertion
- Lack of time to acclimate
- Proximity to hot equipment
- Additional layers of PPE
- Accessibility to hydration
Educate your team to know the signs of heat stress for themselves and coworkers.
Know your limit and watch for signs like:
- Muscle Cramps
- Heavy Sweating
- Cold, pale, clammy skin
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fainting
- Fast Pulse
For a full list of heat illness signs and symptoms and what to do, see NIOSH’s Fact Sheet here.
Utilize tools and resources that are available to you now.
- The voluntary ASSP standard will give you access to checklists and flowcharts, bridging the regulatory gap.
- Reach out to health and safety consultants to provide onsite training and to create control plans.
- Provide input to OSHA so that they can adequately protect workers based on the best evidence.
- Always remember to acclimatize yourself to the heat, take time to rest in a cool spot, watch for signs of heat related illness in yourself and others, and most importantly, STAY HYDRATED. See NIOSH’s Fact Sheet on hydration here.