b'returning to the high heat index environment after having been away from it for one or two weeks. You need to set a schedule for the gradual indoctrination of those employees to the heat index on the jobsite over a period of one to two weeks. I suggest that on this step as well as on other steps you might consult with your company doctor for guidance of the best approach for your employees.Step TwoEstablish a Work/Rest Regimen This will vary depending on the heat index. For a low heart index, you might start with shorter rest periods with longer work periods between. As the heat index increases you will need to increase the length and NIOSH Heat Safety Appfrequency of rest periods. Again, guidance can be obtained on the OSHA Heat App and/or from your company doctor.Step ThreeHydrationYou need to be sure you have adequate cool water on the job site. There should be sufficient water to provide up to a quart of water for each employee each hour. You need to establish a hydration schedule at the start of the day and be prepared to modify it as the heat index increases. A rule of thumb here is a cup of water every 15-20m minutes in a moderate heat index. Again, consult the OSHA Heat App and/or your company doctor for advice and ideas.Step FourCooling Off AreasYou should establishcoolingoffareasincloseproximityto the job site. These should be available for use by employees during rest breaks, especially as the heatyour employees such as appropriate clothing for a index climbs during the day. They should also behigh heat index environment. As you can see, training available to employees anytime they begin to feelemployees on this topic cannot be accomplished in the symptoms of any heat illness. An employee whoa five-to-ten-minute toolbox talk.needs to use a cooling off area should never be permitted to find their own way to the area. Ideally, theYou need to document all training as well as the cooling off area should have an ambient temperaturesteps taken each day to protect your employees in of 75 degrees Fahrenheit.a high heat index environment. Finally, this program Step FiveTraining You should (shall)must be supervisor driven. You must ensure that train your employees on the different types of heatsupervisors know that this is not something the only illnesses, the symptoms of each, and how to recognizetell their employees one time and then leave it up to those symptoms in themselves and others. Theyeach employee to comply or not. The site supervisor should also be trained on the first aid steps to takeMUSTUNDERSTANDTHATHE/SHEis100% whenever they see those symptoms in themselvesresponsible to ENSURE that employees working or others. This training should also include suchfor him/her fully comply with each part of each of the things as staying away from caffeinated beveragessteps I have listed. Start now with developing and and energy drinks. You should also warn employeesimplementing your heat illness prevention program. that anyone with underlying medical issues such asWhen OSHA does finalize a heat illness prevention heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and/ standard you should see specific steps you will need or a history of prior episodes of heat illness is moreto take to be in compliance. Until then you need to susceptible to heat illness than other employees.follow the above steps to meet the requirements of There are other matters that you can discuss withthe General Duty Clause.www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 37'