Heat_Illness_Prevention

1. Schlumberger-Private
Heat Illness Prevention

2. Schlumberger-Private
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Objectives
• Environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness
• Risk mitigation measures for water, shade, rest breaks, and access to
first aid
• Provisions for drinking water and shade
• Acclimatization
• Heat stress signs and symptoms
• Procedures for heat stress response
Note: A review of “Extreme Climate – Hot” should be combined with this
training.

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Risk Factors for Heat Stress
• High temperature and humidity
• Direct sun exposure/no shade
• Limited air movement/no breeze
• Low fluid consumption
• Physical exertion
• Heavy personal protective clothing
• Poor physical condition
• Previous heat-related illness
• Some medication – blood pressure pills, antihistamines
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8. Schlumberger-Private
Heat Illness Prevention and Risk Mitigation Elements
• Access to Water
• Access to Shade
• Weather Monitoring and Acclimatization
• High Heat Procedures
• Employee and Supervisory Training
• Written Procedures Including Emergency Response
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9. Schlumberger-Private
Fluid Intake
• Drink plenty of fluids – at least one cup of cool water every 20 minutes.
Do not depend upon your sense of thirst to trigger your fluid intake. The
sense of thirst does not keep up with your body’s fluid needs.
• Avoid sugar laden beverages that increase fluid loss in the urine.
• Limit intake of caffeinated beverages (soft drinks, coffee).
• Do not drink “Energy Drinks” with caffeine that increase the risk of heat
stress . Some clients ban the use of energy drinks.
• Limit intake of electrolyte replacement drinks (Gatorade) to no more
than 1 per shift. If you are on a restricted salt or sugar diet, consult your
physician before consuming these drinks.
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10. Schlumberger-Private
Access to Water
• Fresh, cool, and potable – from
approved tap water or municipal water
source
• Sufficient quantity – minimum 1 quart
per employee per hour for entire shift
• Readily accessible and as close to work
areas as possible. You may have to
leave some work areas to drink due to
potential chemical exposures.
• Check water level in containers
periodically and replenish as needed.
• Increase frequency of water breaks as
the temperature increases.
Example:
1 man crew = 2 gallons or a 5
gallon jug
4 man crew = 10 gallons or 2, 5
gallon jugs
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11. Schlumberger-Private
Workplace Practices – Water Consumption Table
Urine
Color
Chart
Hydrated Dehydrated
Easy Work – Ex. On
Well site waiting for job to
start, attending safety
meeting, sitting in vehicle.
Moderate Work– Ex.
Checking equipment/Tools,
site inspections, spotting
vehicles on site.
Hard Work– Ex. Rigging
up/down, trouble shooting
equipment.
Chemical Suite = +10o
Full PPE = +5o

12. Schlumberger-Private
Shade
• Utilize shade for first signs of
heat stress.
• Shade or air-conditioning in
vehicles available for
temperatures above 80oF.
• Enough to accommodate
employees while on rest breaks
or meal breaks.
• Monitoring of employees taking
preventive cool down break for
signs of heat stress.
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13. Schlumberger-Private
Acclimatization
• Process of adjusting and adapting to a change in the environment such
as a change in the temperature, humidity, or both.
• New employees and newly assigned to high heat areas will be closely
monitored. Assign a buddy to watch for symptoms of heat illness.
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14. Schlumberger-Private
Monitor the Weather
• Track the weather of the job site by
monitoring predicted temperature highs.
• OSHA Heat Safety Tool App for Smart
Phones:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/h
eat_index/heat_app.html or
www.nws.noaa.gov
• Determine how weather information will
be used to modify work schedule,
increase number of water and rest breaks
or cease work early if necessary.
• Daily pre-job meetings to discuss risk
mitigation measures.
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15. Schlumberger-Private
High Heat Procedures
• Implement when temperatures equal or exceed 95oF.
• Heat prevention procedures.
• Provisions for water, shade, effective communication. Assignment of buddy. Rest
breaks.
• Pre-job meeting to discuss mitigation measures.
• Buddy system implemented. Look for signs of:
• Weakness
• Unsteadiness in walking
• Irritability
• Disorientation
• Feeling of discomfort, illness or malaise
• Change in skin color
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16. Schlumberger-Private
Personal Practices : Heat Stress Monitoring
• Because we cannot rely on personal symptoms of “how people feel” to
stop themselves in time to prevent core body temperature overheating
and causing heat stroke.
• Many people do not feel bad enough to make them stop work in time
to prevent collapse !
• Personal monitoring of objective body signs can help to effectively
prevent heat stroke.
• Use of personal practices do not guarantee that you will not
experience effects associated with heat stress.
• Notify your supervisor if you continue to experience symptoms so you
can receive assistance.
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17. Schlumberger-Private
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Personal Practices : Prevention
Monitor your recovery heat rate:
• Calculate your target heart rate (180
– age). Do not exceed this number
for more than 3 or 4 minutes at a
time.
• Take your pulse after one minute of
rest from work in the heat.
• Take your pulse again after three
minutes of rest from work in the heat.

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Personal Practices : Heat Stress Monitoring
Gauge your ability to recover from the heat as noted in the table.
Pulse after 3 mins. Difference between
pulse at 1 min and 3
mins.
Satisfactory
recovery
Less than 90 beats
per minute
High recovery 90 beats per minute Decrease of 10 beats
per minute
Limited recovery Greater than 90
beats per minute
Decrease of less than
10 beats per minute
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19. Schlumberger-Private
Emergency Response Procedures
• Move to shaded
area.
• Loosen restrictive
clothing.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Trained first aider or
supervisor needs to
determine if resting
in the shade and
drinking cool water
will suffice or if
emergency services
need to be called.
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