OSHA - NIOSH Heat Safety Tool

OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is expecting summer temperatures, on average, to be hotter than normal for much of the South. This means workers who are exposed to the extreme heat may be at a greater risk of heat stress. Having a heat stress plan to prevent these injuries is vital for worker’s safety.

Part of every heat stress plan should involve a way to monitor weather reports so workers can prepare accordingly.  The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool is a useful resource for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day. It has a real-time heat index and hourly forecasts specific to your location.

Heat index and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) are both used to measure environmental temperature. WBGT is the preferred method for determining exposure limits, because it is a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation). This differs from the heat index, which takes into consideration temperature and humidity and is calculated for shady areas. It is important to note, since heat index values were devised for shady, light wind conditions, exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15°F.

Monitoring of the heat index (or WBGT) is important, but due to a variety of other factors affecting risk, it cannot be solely relied upon to prevent heat stress among workers. For example, employers should: (1) reduce workplace heat stress by implementing engineering and work practice controls; (2) train workers before hot outdoor work begins; (3) ensure that workers are acclimatized before they work in a hot environment; (4) provide the means for appropriate hydration of workers; (5) ensure and encourage workers to take appropriate rest breaks to cool down and hydrate; and (6) give workers the opportunity to limit exposure to direct sun or other radiant heat sources by providing shaded areas as needed.

The heat index can be used as a screening tool, so that supervisors and workers can more easily recognize when additional preventive options should be implemented. For example, as the heat index increases, then more water and rest breaks may become necessary. In addition, if conditions are of extreme risk, then it may be necessary to reschedule non-essential work.

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers. Then, with a simple "click," you can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness-reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Tool is available in English and Spanish for Android and iPhone devices with the links below.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=erg.com.nioshheatindex

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osha-niosh-heat-safety-tool/id1239425102

“OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Aug. 2022, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatapp.html.