Heat Illness Prevention and Compliance With Cal/OSHA’s HIP Standard Agricultural employers should be prepared  to protect outdoor workers and to be in full compliance with the Heat Illness Prevention standard.  Some basic points to remember:

• Be sure shade is available on demand when the temperature is below 80 degrees F;
• Shade must be provided at all times when the temperature exceeds 80 degrees F;
• Shade must be easy for employees to reach, and placement of shade should not deter access or use; 
• Employees must not be required to encounter obstacles or hazards or unreasonably unpleasant conditions to reach or use shade;
• Shade must be provided to all employees on a rest or meal break, except those who choose to take a meal break elsewhere;
• Fresh, pure, and suitably cool water must be made available in sufficient quantities (replenishment is permissible) to allow each employee to drink one quart per hour;
• Water must be provided as close as practicable to location of work;
• Employees must be trained about heat illness and the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) Standard before they work in conditions where they might be exposed to heat (Note: FELS’ video Heat Stress Prevention  10% off through July 31; buy the video with a set of FELS’ Employment Notifications Postersand get an additional 15% off);
• Supervisors must be additionally trained in HIP compliance procedures, emergency responses, and ensuring effective communication to facilitate emergency response.
• A written copy of your HIP program in English and the language understood by the majority of the employees and be available to employees and Cal/OSHA inspectors on request — this is the most frequently-cited part of the HIP standard — and probably the most easily-avoided HIP citation!
• Remember: When temperatures exceed 95 degrees, employers must implement “high heat” procedures, including a mandatory 10 minute break every two hours (meal and rest periods can serve as these breaks, but if employees work beyond eight hours or waive meal or rest periods, you must still ensure the mandatory rest break occurs).

• FELS HIP Standard Model Program – a FELS Subscriber Resource
• FELS HIP Standard Model Program (Spanish) – a FELS Subscriber Resource

• Cal/OSHA Board Approves Revisions to Heat Illness Standard

• Cal/OSHA Standards Board Revised Heat Illness Prevention Standard – Approved 2/2015, Effective 5/1/2015
  

• 2015 Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Enforcement Guidance

• Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention (HIP) standard Q&A – revised April 2015

•  PREVIEW —  (First two minutes only)
• Purchase the video here