Cal-OSHA has proposed regulations for employers to deal with heat stress for employees. One of the requirements is to disseminate information/training about what heat stress is, ways to avoid it and what to do if one experiences symptoms.

I prepared a Heat Stress Information Brochure for you to accomplish this requirement. It is set up as tri-fold brochure - If you move to the far right column of page two of the Heat Stress Pamphlet, you will see a blue box at the top. If you place your cursor into the box and begin typing your district's name - it should shrink to fit on two lines within the box.

Remember to personalize this brochure with your district name and then print as many copies as you need - print on both sides of one sheet. Then you can fold them.   Be sure to document that you disseminated the brochure to all employees (whether they work inside or outside) and keep a copy in your IIPP file.

The second important aspect of this regulation is that supervisors insure that employees be provided with water. "Employees shall have access to potable drinking water. Water shall be provided in sufficient quantity at the beginning of the work shift to provide one quart per employee per hour for drinking for the entire shift. Employers may begin the shift with smaller quantities of water if they have effective procedures for replenishment during the shift as needed to allow employees to drink one quart or more per hour. The frequent drinking of water, as described in (e), shall be encouraged.

The third important aspect of the law requires that employees have Access to Shade. Employees suffering from heat illness or believing a preventative recovery period is needed, shall be provided access to an area with shade that is either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling for a period of no less than five minutes. Such access to shade shall be permitted at all times.

These regulations apply to all workers, but are especially important for your maintenance and utility staff - including plumbers, electricians, groundskeepers, custodians, mechanics, bus drivers, etc.

Here's the text of the proposed regulation.