Heat Stress
General info only. These talks don't replace your company's safety program, your site rules, or OSHA rules. Follow those first, and ask your safety lead if something here doesn't match.
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Heat sneaks up on people. You can feel fine at 9 and be in trouble by 2. Today we talk about how to stay ahead of it.
Key points
- Drink water before you feel thirsty. A cup every 15 to 20 minutes is a good habit on hot days.
- Take breaks in the shade. Short breaks often beat one long break.
- New workers and people coming back from time off need a few days to get used to the heat. Ease them in.
- Watch for warning signs: heavy sweating, cramps, headache, dizziness, feeling sick to your stomach.
- Confusion, slurred speech, or a person who stops sweating and gets hot and dry is an emergency. Call for help right away and start cooling them down.
- Use the buddy system. Check on each other, because people with heat illness often don't notice it in themselves.
- Light colored, loose clothing helps. So does wetting a rag for your neck.
Bottom line: If you feel off, speak up and get to shade. Nobody is getting written up for taking a water break.
Talk it over
- Where is the closest shade and water on this job today?
- What would you do if your buddy started acting confused?
- Who here is new or just came back and needs to take it easier this week?
Before you wrap up: have everyone sign the sign-in sheet, write today's date and the topic, and note any questions or hazards the crew brought up. Need a sheet? Use the free toolbox talk template.
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