Administrative Controls
Some worksites cannot be cooled by engineering controls. At those locations, employers should use administrative controls to modify work practices when heat stress is too high to work safely. Consider the following activity modifications:
- Modify work schedules and activities for workers who are new to warm environments.
- Schedule shorter shifts for newly hired workers and unacclimatized existing workers. Gradually increase shift length over the first 1-2 weeks.
- Require mandatory rest breaks in a cooler environment (such as a shady location or an air conditioned building). The duration of the rest breaks should increase as heat stress rises.
- Consider scheduling work at a cooler time of day, such as early morning or late afternoon.
- Reduce physical demands as much as possible by planning the work to minimize manual effort (such as delivering material to the point of use so that manual handling is minimized).
- Rotate job functions among workers to help minimize exertion and heat exposure.
- Ensure that workers drink an adequate amount of water or electrolyte-containing fluids. Avoid drinking hot beverages during lunch and afternoon breaks.
- Employers should have an emergency plan that specifies what to do if a worker has signs of heat-related illness, and ensures that medical services are available if needed.
- Workers should watch out for each other for symptoms of heat-related illness prepared to administer appropriate first aid to anyone who is developing a heat-related illness.
- Administer appropriate first aid to any worker who is developing a heat-related illness.
- In some situations, employers may need to conduct physiological monitoring of workers.
- Implement a buddy system for new workers and in heat stress environments.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-8. Modified work schedules, rest breaks, and job rotation are examples of _____.
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