Severe Weather Operations: Heat

General Guidelines

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Video: How heat messes with the human body

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: 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.

Working in the heat

• Increase hydration. Consider drinks containing electrolytes.
• Wear loose fitting clothing.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Take frequent breaks in the shade, and reapply sunscreen frequently.
• Watch for signs of heat related illnesses, and report to supervisor immediately.

OR-OSHA Notices for heat, and other concerns

• https://osha.oregon.gov/news/notices/Pages/default.aspx

Heat Illness Prevention Training:

• Please review the OR-OSHA Heat Illness Prevention online training course. Log time as Self-reported > Advanced Training.
• 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.