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== General Guidelines ==
{{#ev:youtube|fLu080UX25o|430|right|'''''Video: How heat messes with the human body'''''|frame}}
As always, every NET's personal health and safety must be their absolute top priority. NETs may not distribute or give away their own supply of water or other health provisions unless replenishment is expected imminently.
Any NET who suspects that their deployment conditions might be unhealthy is required to immediately notify their Incident Team Leader (ITL) or PBEM Incident Commander (IC) and remove themself to a safer environment. Do not become a patient!
If NET volunteers are working alongside City employees who receive direction to modify, relocate, or suspend their work, these directives apply to NETs as well. All safety guidelines applicable to employees apply to volunteers, as a minimum.
== OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App ==
PBEM highly recommends installing this smartphone app to monitor conditions, and as a reference for heat stress indicators. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatapp.html
== EPA AirNow AQI Quality Monitoring System ==
Heat can be accompanied by degraded air quality. PBEM recommends tracking the local air quality index (AQI) using EPA's AirNow system: [https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Portland&state=OR&country=USA website], [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saic.airnow&pli=1 Android app], [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/epa-airnow/id467653238 iPhone app].
== City Thresholds and Action Items ==
== City Thresholds and Action Items ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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'''''Heat Index*'''''
'''''Heat Index*'''''
|'''''Heat Index + 10'''''
|'''''Heat Index +'''''
''(tasked with high exertion activities**)''
''(Lower threshold when tasked with high exertion activities**)''
|'''''Action Taken'''''
|'''''Action Taken'''''
(''Actions continue and build on each other for escalating Heat Indices'')
(''Levels build on each other for escalating Heat Indices'')
|-
|-
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
|style="background: yellow;|
'''''100+'''''
'''''80'''''
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
|style="background: yellow;|
''95''
''80''
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
|style="background: yellow;|
* Limit physical exertion to a moderate work pace.
* Emphasize the NET 'buddy' system. NETs ''always'' work in pairs for safety. Incident Team Leaders (ITLs) and/or PBEM staff will maintain regular communication with volunteers.
* Bureaus will remove workers from field or move to air-conditioned workspaces.
* A 10-minute break every 2 hours is ''required'', however a 10-minute break at least every hour is ''recommended''.
* Emergency work and essential functions*** prioritized.
* Volunteers should be encouraged to take preventative cool-down rests in order to prevent the onset of heat-related health impacts.
* Additional cold or cool drinking water will be made readily accessible to all volunteers. Access to shaded areas will be provided as close as practical to work area. When practical, work areas will be located entirely in shade.
|-
|-
|style="background: darkorange;|
|style="background: darkorange;|
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''85''
''85''
|style="background: darkorange;|
|style="background: darkorange;|
* Work assignments should be prioritized for cooler parts of the day and bureaus should consider limiting field work to critical functions at a moderate work pace.
* Work assignments should be prioritized for cooler parts of the day and field work should be limited to critical functions conducted at a moderate pace.
* Bureaus should consider assigning workers to air-conditioned areas or to assist with severe heat response activities.
* Consider assigning volunteers to air-conditioned areas and modifying heat response activities.
|-
|-
|style="background: yellow;|
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
'''''80'''''
'''''100+'''''
|style="background: yellow;|
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
''80''
''95''
|style="background: yellow;|
|style="background: darkred; color: white"|
* Regular communication with employees working alone or buddy system.
* Limit physical exertion to a moderate work pace.
* A 10-minute break every 2 hours is required, while a 10 -minute break every hour is recommended as operations permit or as directed by manager.
* PBEM will remove volunteer from the field or move them to air-conditioned workspaces.
* Workers should be encouraged to take preventative cool-down rests in order to prevent the onset of heat-related health impacts.
* Emergency work and essential functions*** will be prioritized.
* Additional cold or cool drinking water readily accessible to all workers. Access to shaded areas as close as practical to work area.'' ''
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |''*When the Heat Index reaches this level the City will comply with the standards for Heat Safety set forth by OR-OSHA''
| colspan="3" |''*When the [https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-index Heat Index] reaches each of these levels the City will comply with the standards for Heat Safety set forth by OR-OSHA which are available in [https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/factsheets/fs91.pdf English] and [https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/factsheets/fs91s.pdf Spanish].''
''**'' ''high exertion activities include but are not limited to paving, climbing, carrying loads over 40 pounds, indoor areas whose heat exceeds outdoor temperatures, and strenuous manual labor which may require heat trapping PPE and/or impermeable protective clothing.''
''**'' ''High exertion activities include but are not limited to climbing, carrying loads over 40 pounds, work in indoor areas where heat exceeds outdoor temperatures, and strenuous manual labor which may require heat-trapping PPE and/or impermeable protective clothing.''
''*** Essential functions are defined by bureau operations and include but are not limited to work required to protect life and property.''
''*** Essential functions are defined by PBEM and include but are not limited to work required to protect life and property.''
* Please review the [https://osha.oregon.gov/edu/courses/Pages/heat-illness-prevention-online-course.aspx OR-OSHA Heat Illness Prevention online training course]. Log time as '''Self-reported''' > '''Advanced Training'''.
* [https://www.publicalerts.org/heat PublicAlerts.org Extreme Heat] educational materials and printable handouts.
=== '''When to seek help''' ===
* Keep in check with your body and monitor your co-workers for symptoms of heat related illnesses. These may include:
** Headache
** Weakness
** Confusion and/or slurred speech
** Fainting and/or trouble responding
** Cramps
** Dizziness
* If you, a co-worker experience these symptoms while working in high temps, it may be heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or other heat-related conditions.
* Shade the injured person, provide a cool towel and make sure liquids are available. If the person is having trouble responding or complains of significant exhaustion, it’s time to get them to medical care or call 911.
=='''For Incident Team Leader (ITLs) and Safety Officers'''==
* Be prepared to modify outdoor work activities and reschedule more strenuous outdoor tasks to the early morning hours. Assign afternoon tasks indoors or in shady areas.
* Communicate with volunteers under your command frequently. NETs' safety is our top operational priority at all times.
* Require a 10 minute rest period ''at least'' every two-hours, or more often if at all possible.
* Ensure volunteers have sufficient cool water (32 ounces per hour while working in heat). Request assistance from the next level of command if necessary.
As always, every NET's personal health and safety must be their absolute top priority. NETs may not distribute or give away their own supply of water or other health provisions unless replenishment is expected imminently.
Any NET who suspects that their deployment conditions might be unhealthy is required to immediately notify their Incident Team Leader (ITL) or PBEM Incident Commander (IC) and remove themself to a safer environment. Do not become a patient!
If NET volunteers are working alongside City employees who receive direction to modify, relocate, or suspend their work, these directives apply to NETs as well. All safety guidelines applicable to employees apply to volunteers, as a minimum.
Heat can be accompanied by degraded air quality. PBEM recommends tracking the local air quality index (AQI) using EPA's AirNow system: website, Android app, iPhone app.
City Thresholds and Action Items
Heat Index*
Heat Index +
(Lower threshold when tasked with high exertion activities**)
Action Taken
(Levels build on each other for escalating Heat Indices)
80
80
Emphasize the NET 'buddy' system. NETs always work in pairs for safety. Incident Team Leaders (ITLs) and/or PBEM staff will maintain regular communication with volunteers.
A 10-minute break every 2 hours is required, however a 10-minute break at least every hour is recommended.
Volunteers should be encouraged to take preventative cool-down rests in order to prevent the onset of heat-related health impacts.
Additional cold or cool drinking water will be made readily accessible to all volunteers. Access to shaded areas will be provided as close as practical to work area. When practical, work areas will be located entirely in shade.
90
85
Work assignments should be prioritized for cooler parts of the day and field work should be limited to critical functions conducted at a moderate pace.
Consider assigning volunteers to air-conditioned areas and modifying heat response activities.
100+
95
Limit physical exertion to a moderate work pace.
PBEM will remove volunteer from the field or move them to air-conditioned workspaces.
Emergency work and essential functions*** will be prioritized.
*When the Heat Index reaches each of these levels the City will comply with the standards for Heat Safety set forth by OR-OSHA which are available in English and Spanish.
**High exertion activities include but are not limited to climbing, carrying loads over 40 pounds, work in indoor areas where heat exceeds outdoor temperatures, and strenuous manual labor which may require heat-trapping PPE and/or impermeable protective clothing.
*** Essential functions are defined by PBEM and include but are not limited to work required to protect life and property.
Keep in check with your body and monitor your co-workers for symptoms of heat related illnesses. These may include:
Headache
Weakness
Confusion and/or slurred speech
Fainting and/or trouble responding
Cramps
Dizziness
If you, a co-worker experience these symptoms while working in high temps, it may be heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or other heat-related conditions.
Shade the injured person, provide a cool towel and make sure liquids are available. If the person is having trouble responding or complains of significant exhaustion, it’s time to get them to medical care or call 911.
For Incident Team Leader (ITLs) and Safety Officers
Be prepared to modify outdoor work activities and reschedule more strenuous outdoor tasks to the early morning hours. Assign afternoon tasks indoors or in shady areas.
Communicate with volunteers under your command frequently. NETs' safety is our top operational priority at all times.
Require a 10 minute rest period at least every two-hours, or more often if at all possible.
Ensure volunteers have sufficient cool water (32 ounces per hour while working in heat). Request assistance from the next level of command if necessary.