Environmental Health and Safety Office

HEAT STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Application.......................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Purpose .............................................................................................................. 2
1.3 Standards and Regulatory Guidelines................................................................ 2
2.0 Responsibilities ..................................................................................................... 2
3.0 Definitions.............................................................................................................. 4
4.0 Heat Stress Injuries/Illnesses (symptoms, treatment, cause, prevention) ............. 5
5.0 Heat Stress Prevention / Risk Management .......................................................... 7
5.1 Employee Training ............................................................................................. 7
5.2 Assessing Job Heat Stress Risks ....................................................................... 7
5.3 Assessing Worker Heat Stress Risks ................................................................. 8
5.4 Heat Stress Controls .......................................................................................... 9
Appendices ................................................................................................................... 14
1.0 Introduction

Employee exposure to Heat Stress can result in several illnesses, as well as decreased
productivity and increased likelihood of injuries. The Elizabeth City State University Heat
Stress Management Program is designed to protect employees against the risk of heat
induced illnesses and injuries.

Heat stress results from a combination of internal (body) heat production from doing
work and external heat exposure from the environment. Both aspects need to be
addressed to properly control heat stress.

Heat Stress is influenced by several risk factors: climatic conditions, the work
environment, demands of the work, clothing and personal characteristics.

Climatic and environmental conditions that affect the risk of heat-related disorders are
air temperature and humidity, air movement, and the temperature of surrounding
surfaces which affects radiant heat exchange.

Demands of the work influence the stress on the temperature regulation system.
Individual responses to a given work load vary but, as an employee expends more
energy, the body’s internal metabolic heat production rises. This increases stress on the
cardiovascular system to regulate body temperature (i.e., by increasing blood flow to
skin). Work-related factors that influence heat stress include work rate, level of physical
effort, and duration of activity

Clothing characteristics such as insulation, permeability, weight, fit and ventilation affect
the body’s ability to regulate internal temperatures. Other factors that may increase the
risk of heat-related disorders include additional equipment, the use of a respirator, or
other personal protective equipment (PPE).

Personal characteristics such as age, weight, previous heat stress injury, underlying
medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, chronic pulmonary disease,
and thyroid disorders), medication use and overall health and physical fitness contribute
to an employee’s susceptibility of contracting a heat-related illness.

Working in an environment with heat stress not only increases the risk for specific heat
related conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but also increases the risk
for workplace accidents.

This program/guideline describes common heat disorders (health hazard of heat

exposure), prevention strategies, methods for evaluating heat stress risk, and methods
of control.

EH&S 1
 1.1 Application
Elizabeth City State University is committed to the health and safety of our
students, faculty, staff and visitors. This guideline applies to all ECSU employees
that may be required to work in elevated temperature work environments.
1.2 Purpose
The goal of this program is to minimize potential detrimental health effects for
Elizabeth City State University employees resulting from excessive heat that may
result from working outdoors or within indoor environments with elevated
temperatures. This document establishes guidelines to assess and minimize
employee health risks resulting from heat stress exposure.
1.3 Standards and Regulatory Guidelines
There is currently no specific Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Standard for heat stress. However, OSHA recognizes that jobs involving
operations in hot environments have the potential to induce heat stress in
employees. These operations include those which involve radiant heat sources,
high humidity, direct contact with hot objects, or strenuous activities. The
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) the American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have promulgated recommended safety
guidelines for working in hot environments. As guidance for employers of those
individuals involved in these operations, OSHA has included a section on heat
stress in the OSHA Technical Manual which references many of the guidelines
put forth by NIOSH and ACGIH.

2.0 Responsibilities

Management Responsibilities

It is management's responsibility to provide a safe workplace for the employees of the

University with the realization that employees are ultimately responsible for their own
personal safety. Supervisors shall assess the workplace or contact the EHS Office to
determine if heat stress hazards are present or likely to be present that would
necessitate the use or engineering controls, administrative controls, or PPE.

EH&S 2
Deans, Department Heads, and Directors

 Ensure heat stress management within their units meets the requirements of this
guideline
 Provide fiscal and administrative resources for the implementation of their unit
specific heat stress management guidelines.
 Ensure that all personnel within their unit affected by heat stress receive proper
training.

Supervisors

 Attend training on the requirements of the unit specific heat stress program.
 Identify personnel who require heat stress training and ensure that they have
received the proper training before allowing work to commence in a heat stress
environment.
 Understand and follow the protocols of this heat stress guideline, unit specific
heat stress guidelines, and specific SOPs.
 Complete an Elizabeth City State University Supervisor Incident Investigation
Report for any employee heat related injury or illness.

Affected Employees

 Attend training on the requirements of the Heat Stress Management Program

 Know and understand the hazards and warning signs of Heat Stress
 Understand and follow the protocols of this heat stress guideline, and any unit
specific heat stress management procedures (SOPs).
 Complete an Employee Incident Report for any heat related injury or illness.
 Comply with applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
 Wear or use prescribed protective equipment
 Report hazardous conditions and dangers to their supervisor.
 Report any job related injury or illness to the University and seek treatment
promptly.
 Promptly notify supervisor of any medical condition, or if they are taking over-the-
counter medications that might put them at special risk for heat related injury.
Alternate means of protection from heat stress may be devised that
accommodate the employee’s situation. The EHS Office will review these
situations on a case-by-case basis.

Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS)

 Develop a written Heat Stress Guideline and review it on an annual basis.

 Conduct hazard evaluations of heat stress environments upon request and make
recommendations for risk management.

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  Provide campus departments with assistance in creating specific heat stress
guidance and site specific SOPs.
 Assist campus departments in the selection of appropriate equipment to control
high heat stress environments.
 Provide training on heat stress management annually and upon request.

3.0 Definitions

Acclimatization (or acclimation) is adaptation to a new climate, such as a new

temperature, altitude or environment.

Conduction is the transfer of heat between materials that contact each other. Heat
passes from the warmer material to the cooler material. For example, a worker's skin
can transfer heat to a contacting surface if that surface is cooler, and vice versa.

Convection is the transfer of heat in a moving fluid. Air flowing past the body can cool
the body if the air temperature is cool. On the other hand, air that exceeds 35°C
(95°F) can increase the heat load on the body.

Dry bulb (DB) temperature is measured by a thermal sensor, such as an ordinary

mercury-in-glass thermometer, that is shielded from direct radiant energy sources.

Electrolytes are various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required by cells
to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell
membrane. Muscle contraction is dependent upon the presence of calcium, sodium,
and potassium. Without sufficient levels of these key electrolytes, muscle weakness
or severe muscle contractions may occur.

Evaporative cooling takes place when sweat evaporates from the skin. High humidity
reduces the rate of evaporation and thus reduces the effectiveness of the body's
primary cooling mechanism.

Metabolic heat is a by-product of the body's activity.

Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through space. A worker whose body
temperature is greater than the temperature of the surrounding surfaces radiates
heat to these surfaces. Hot surfaces and infrared light sources radiate heat that can
increase the body's heat load.

Wet bulb (NWB) temperature is measured by exposing a wet sensor, such as a wet
cotton wick fitted over the bulb of a thermometer, to the effects of evaporation and
convection.

EH&S 4
Heat Index
The heat index (HI) or humiture or humidex is an index that combines air
temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived
equivalent temperature — how hot it feels. The result is also known as the "felt air
temperature" or "apparent temperature". For example, when the temperature is 90
°F (32 °C) with very high humidity, the heat index can be about 105 °F (41 °C).

4.0 Heat Stress Injuries/Illnesses (symptoms, treatment, cause, prevention)

HEAT STROKE
Symptoms:
Usually hot, dry skin; red, mottled or bluish. Sweating may still be present.
Confusion, lose of consciousness, convulsions. Rapid pulse. Rectal temperature
greater than 104ºF. When in doubt, treat as heat stroke. Can be fatal.
Treatment:
Medical emergency. Call paramedics and start cooling the victim immediately.
Remove the victim to a cool area. Soak clothing and skin with cool water and use a
fan to create air movement. Shock may occur. Medical treatment is imperative.
Cause:
Partial or complete failure of sweating mechanism. The body cannot get rid of
excess heat

HEAT STROKE cont.

Prevention:
Acclimatization, close monitoring for signs of heat illness, medical screening and
drinking plenty of water.

HEAT EXHAUSTION
Symptoms:
Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, faintness. Nausea, headache. Moist, clammy skin;
pale or flushed. Rapid pulse. Normal or slightly elevated temperature.
Treatment:
Have the victim rest in a cool area and drink fluids.
Cause:
Dehydration causes blood volume to decrease.
Prevention:
Acclimatization and drinking plenty of water.

HEAT SYNCOPE
Symptoms:
Fainting while standing erect and immobile. A variant of heat exhaustion. Symptoms
of heat exhaustion may precede fainting.
Treatment:

EH&S 5
 Move the victim to a cool area, have the victim rest and drink fluids.
Cause:
Dehydration causes blood volume to decrease. Blood pools in dilated blood vessels
of the skin and lower body, making less blood available to the brain.
Prevention:
Acclimatization, drinking plenty of water, avoiding standing in one place and
intermittent activity to avoid blood pooling.

HEAT CRAMPS
Symptoms:
Painful muscle spasms in the arms, legs or abdomen during or after hard physical
work.
Treatment:
Resting, drinking water and eating more salty foods.
Cause:
Not well understood. May be due to a loss of salt from sweating. Dehydration is a
factor.
Prevention:
Adequate water intake and adequate salt intake at meals; do not use salt tablets.

HEAT RASH
Symptoms:
“Prickly heat”; tiny, raised, blister-like rash.
Treatment:
Keeping skin clean and dry.
Cause:
Skin is constantly wet from sweat. Sweat gland ducts become plugged, leading to
inflammation.
Prevention:
Showering after working in hot environment. Keeping skin dry.

TRANSIENT HEAT FATIGUE

Symptoms:
Decline in performance, particularly in skilled physical work, mental tasks and those
requiring concentration.
Treatment:
No treatment necessary unless other signs of heat illness are present.
Cause:
Discomfort. Stress from the heat less than what would result in other heat illnesses.
Prevention:
Acclimatization and training.

EH&S 6
(See Appendix C for Solar Energy Exposure health effects and risk reduction)

5.0 Heat Stress Prevention / Risk Management

The Elizabeth City State University heat stress prevention program involves four
elements, which are:
1. Employee Training
2. Assessing Job Heat Stress Risks
3. Assessing Employee Heat Stress Risks
4. Heat Stress Controls
5.1 Employee Training
The most important component of the Elizabeth City State University heat stress
prevention program is employee training. In addition to reading this program
document, employees shall be trained regarding the risks of heat stress and how
it is reduced, as well as how to recognize heat illnesses and treat them. Specific
components of the training include:
• The hazards of heat stress,
• Personal precautions that can be taken to reduce heat stress (see Section
5.4),
• Predisposing factors for, danger signs of, and symptoms of heat stress
conditions and illnesses (see Section 5.3),
• Dangers of using drugs, including therapeutic ones, and alcohol in hot work
environments,
• Awareness of first-aid procedures for, and the potential health effects of, heat
stroke in themselves and others,
• Employee responsibilities in avoiding heat stress,
• Typical engineering and administrative controls implemented to reduce heat
stress,
• Use of personal protective equipment, and
• Purpose and coverage of environmental and medical surveillance programs
and the advantages of worker participation in such programs.
5.2 Assessing Job Heat Stress Risks
Supervisors are responsible for assessing every job/project to determine if it is
likely to pose heat stress risks. Operations involving high air temperatures,
radiant heat sources, high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or
strenuous physical activities have a high potential for inducing heat stress in
employees. Indoor operations such as electrical utilities (particularly boiler or
mechanical rooms) are examples of Elizabeth City State University work
locations where heat stress risks can exist. Outdoor operations conducted in hot
weather, such as trenching, construction, and grounds maintenance/landscaping,
and tasks requiring workers to wear semi-permeable or impermeable protective
clothing, are also likely to cause heat stress among exposed workers.

EH&S 7
 Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that appropriate heat stress reduction
controls are instituted (see section 5.4) whenever significant heat stress is
possible. Employees are empowered to request such controls if heat stress is
expected or encountered.

5.2.1 Assessing Environmental Heat Stress Risks

Ambient temperature, humidity levels, radiant heat sources, and air
movement must be taken into consideration when assessing the potential
for heat stress hazards. There are several different ways to evaluate
environmental heat stress risks for employees. The most common method
used is the National Weather Service Heat Index.

5.2.1.1 National Weather Service Heat Index

A second method of evaluating environmental heat stress risk for
workers working outdoors is using the National Weather Service
Heat Index. This index can be used to determine danger levels
based on temperature and humidity. One advantage of using this
tool is the availability of the data. Temperature and relative humidity
are the measurements used for this calculated index and these are
available 24/7 from the national weather service. See Appendix B
for detailed information

5.3 Assessing Worker Heat Stress Risks

Supervisors are responsible for assessing their employee’s ability to perform jobs
which might involve heat stress. Age, weight, degree of physical fitness, degree
of acclimatization, metabolism, dehydration, use of alcohol or drugs, and a
variety of medical conditions such as hypertension all affect a person's sensitivity
to heat. However, even the type of clothing worn must be considered. Prior heat
injury predisposes an individual to additional injury. Individual susceptibility
varies. In addition, environmental factors include more than the ambient air
temperature. Radiant heat, air movement, conduction, and relative humidity all
affect an individual's response to heat.

Heat stress controls should be modified or the employee reassigned to a job

without heat stress for employees identified as at risk for heat conditions or
illness.

The potential for an employee who works in a hot environment to be affected by

heat stress depends on heat combined with physical labor, loss of fluids and
fatigue, in addition to the factors listed below. An assessment of each job with
these factors can assist in developing a strategy to prevent heat related
problems.

EH&S 8
 Employee Risk Factors

Factors increasing an employee’s susceptibility to heat stress include:

• Being dehydrated
• Having recently consumed alcohol
• Having diarrhea or taking antidiarrheal medications,
• Being exposed to high temperatures at night,
• Fatigue,
• Improper work procedures,
• Lack of acclimatization,
• Loss of sleep,
• Being obese,
• Being over age 40,
• Taking medications that inhibit sweating, such as antihistamines, cold
medicines, diuretics and some tranquilizers,
• Previous occurrence of heat stroke
• Poor physical conditioning,
• Recent immunizations (as they can cause a fever),
• Recent drug or alcohol use,
• Skin trauma, such as heat rash or sunburn),
• Use of respirators, and
• Wearing impermeable equipment, such as rubber gloves, rubber boots or
Tyvek® suits.
5.4 Heat Stress Controls
Heat stress controls can take the form of engineering controls, personal
protective equipment (PPE) and administrative controls. The following sections
provide examples of controls that might be appropriate in certain situations.

5.4.1 Engineering Controls

General ventilation dilutes hot air with cooler air. A permanently installed
ventilation system usually can handle large areas or entire buildings.
Portable or local exhaust systems may be more effective or practical in
smaller areas.

Air treatment differs from ventilation because it reduces the temperature of

the air by removing the heat, and sometimes humidity, from the air. Air
conditioning is a method of air cooling which uses a compressed
refrigerant under pressure to remove the heat from the air. This method is
expensive to install and operate. An alternative to air conditioning is the
use of chillers to circulate unpressurized cool water through heat
exchangers over which air from the ventilation system is then passed.
Chillers are more efficient in cooler climates or in dry climates where
evaporative cooling can be used.

EH&S 9
 Another way to reduce heat stress is to cool the employee by increasing
the air flow or convection using fans, etc. in the work area. Changes in air
speed can help workers stay cooler by increasing both the convective heat
exchange (the exchange between the skin surface and the surrounding
air) and the rate of evaporation. This does not actually cool the air so
moving air must impact the worker directly to be effective. Convective
cooling is generally only effective as long as the air temperature is less
than the worker's skin temperature. Increases in air speed have no effect
on the body temperature of workers wearing vapor-barrier clothing.

Heat conduction blocking methods include insulating the hot surface that
generates the heat and changing the surface itself. Simple devices, such
as shields, can be used to reduce radiant heat, i.e. heat coming from hot
surfaces within the worker's line of sight. Polished surfaces make the
best barriers, although special glass or metal mesh surfaces can be used
if visibility is a problem With some sources of radiation, such as heating
pipes, it is possible to use both insulation and surface modifications to
achieve a substantial reduction in radiant heat.

Shields should be located so that they do not interfere with air flow, unless
they are also being used to reduce convective heating. The reflective
surface of the shield should be kept clean to maintain its effectiveness.

5.4.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Reflective clothing, which can vary from aprons and jackets to suits that
completely enclose the worker from neck to feet, can reduce the radiant
heat reaching the worker. However, since most reflective clothing does
not allow air exchange through the garment, the reduction of radiant heat
must more than offset the corresponding loss in evaporative cooling. For
this reason, reflective clothing should be worn as loosely as possible. In
situations where radiant heat is high, auxiliary cooling systems can be
used under the reflective clothing.

Auxiliary body cooling ice vests, though heavy, may accommodate as

many as 72 ice packets, which are usually filled with water. Carbon
dioxide (dry ice) can also be used as a coolant. The cooling offered by ice
packets lasts only 2 to 4 hours at moderate to heavy heat loads, and
frequent replacement is necessary. However, ice vests do not tether the
worker and thus permit maximum mobility. Cooling with ice is also
relatively inexpensive.

EH&S 10
 5.4.3 Administrative Controls

The two most important methods of preventing heat disorders are

hydration and acclimatization because they increase the ability of the body
to tolerate heat stress. Engineering and administrative controls are also
important in reducing heat exposure.

Hydration
 The most important factor in preventing heat illnesses is adequate
water intake.
 Water must be available to employees who are working under heat
stress risk conditions.
 Workers should drink at least five to seven ounces of cool water every
15 to 20 minutes.
 Under conditions of profuse sweating, a commercial electrolyte
replacement drink may be appropriate. Some drinks are too
concentrated and need to be diluted or consumed along with water.

Acclimatization
A physiological adaptation will occur with repeated exposure to hot
environments. The heart rate will decrease, sweating will increase, sweat
will become more dilute and body temperature will be lower. The ability to
acclimatize varies among workers. Generally, individuals in good physical
condition acclimatize more rapidly than those in poor condition.

Approximately one week of gradually increasing the workload and time

spent in the hot environment will usually lead to full acclimatization. On the
first day the individual performs 50 percent of the normal workload and
spends 50 percent of the time in the hot environment. Each day an
additional 10 percent of the normal workload and time is added, so that by
day six, the worker is performing the full workload for an entire day. The
exposure time should be at least two hours a day for acclimatization to
occur.

Acclimatization is lost when exposure to hot environments does not occur

for several days. After a one week absence, a worker needs to
reacclimatize by following a schedule similar to that for initial
acclimatization. The acclimatization will occur more rapidly, so increases
in workload and time can increase by approximately 20 percent each day
after the first day, reaching normal work conditions by day four.

EH&S 11
 Work Practices to Reduce Risk

Use the buddy system. Ensure that co-workers watch one another for
signs of heat stress. Reduce physical demands by reducing physical
exertion such as excessive lifting, climbing, or digging with heavy objects.
Spread the work over more individuals, use relief workers or assign extra
workers. Provide external pacing to minimize overexertion.

Provide recovery areas, such as air-conditioned enclosures and rooms,

and provide intermittent rest periods with water breaks. Establish
provisions for a work/rest regimen so that exposure time to high
temperatures and/or the work rate is decreased.

Reschedule hot jobs for the cooler part of the day. Routine
maintenance and repair work in hot areas should be scheduled for the
cooler seasons of the year. When possible, outdoor work areas should be
provided with coverings, such as a tarp, to provide shade.

Monitor workers who are at risk of heat stress, such as those wearing
semi-permeable or impermeable clothing when the temperature exceeds
70°F, while performing strenuous tasks. Personal monitoring can be done
by checking the heart rate, recovery heart rate, oral temperature, or extent
of body water loss.

EH&S 12
 Personal precautions that ECSU employees should be aware of and
institute precautions when exposed to heat stress include:

 Fluid intake: Drink 5 to 7 ounces of cool water for every 15 to 20

minutes,
 Salt Supplements: Not recommended since too much salt can cause
higher body temperature, increased thirst and nausea
 Dress to Increase Reflection and Convection: Wear light-colored,
loose-fitting,
breathable clothing,
 Reduce Ultraviolet Radiation: Work in the shade,
 Stop the Heat Build-up: Take frequent short breaks in cool shade.
 Reduce Metabolic Heat: Eat smaller meals before work activity.
 Avoid Dehydrating Liquids: Don’t drink caffeine and alcohol or large
amounts of sugary drinks,

EH&S 13
 Appendices

EH&S 14
 APPENDIX A

ACGIH THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE (TLV) FOR HEAT STRESS

Heat Stress for an employee is a result of the net heat load which includes combined
contributions from metabolic heat (work load), environmental factors (air temperature,
humidity, air movement, and radiant heat), and clothing requirements. The TLV is a
guideline for a work rest schedule based on body heat load including:
Type of work activity
Work Clothing (adjustment to index)

This calculated temperature is used to select a work-rest regimen to minimize risk for
most average healthy workers.

ACGIH THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES FOR HOT ENVIRONMENTS (WBGT Index)

Work Load
Work-Rest Regimen Light Moderate Heavy
Continuous Work (75-100% work) 86 F (31 C) 80 F (28 C) 77 F
75% Work (50 -75% work)) 87F (31 C) 82F (29 C) 78F (27.5 C)
25% Rest, each hour
50% Work (25-50% work) 89F (32 C) 85F (30 C) 82F (29 C)
50% Rest, each hour
25% Work (0-25% work) 90F (32.5 C) 88F (31.5 C) 86F (30.5 C)
75% Rest, each hour

Work Load Definitions

APPROXIMATE WORKLOAD LEVELS
Light Sitting at ease, writing/typing, sorting light materials, inspecting crops, driving
mobile equipment on paved roads, piloting spray aircraft
Moderate Using a chain saw, off-road operation of mobile equipment, periodic handling of
moderately heavy materials, weeding, hoeing, picking fruits or vegetables, air
blast and boom spraying, knapsack spraying on level ground, pushing or pulling
light-weight carts or wheelbarrows, washing vehicles, walking 2-3 mph
Heavy Transferring heavy materials, shoveling, digging, hand mowing, loading sacks,
stacking hay, planting seedlings, hand-sawing wood, pushing or pulling loaded
hand carts or wheelbarrows, moving irrigation pipe, laying cinder blocks,
knapsack spraying on rough ground or an incline, walking 4 mph
Very Heavy Heavy shoveling or digging, ax work, climbing stairs, ramps, or ladders, lifting
more that 44 pounds at 10 lifts per minute, walking faster that 4 mph, jogging,
running

EH&S 15
EH&S 16
 APPENDIX B
HEAT INDEX

The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) developed

the heat index system. The heat index combines both air temperature and relative
humidity into a single value that indicates the apparent temperature in degrees
Fahrenheit, or how hot the weather will feel. The higher the heat index, the hotter the
weather will feel, and the greater the risk that outdoor workers will experience heat-
related illness. NOAA issues heat advisories as the heat index rises. To learn more
about the heat index, visit NOAA’s website.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The heat index values were devised for shady, light wind
conditions, and exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15°
Fahrenheit. To account for solar load, added precautions are recommended. See
Protective Measures to Take at Each Risk Level.

See the OSHA web site for more information: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/

For the HEAT Safety Tool App see:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html

EH&S 17
 APPENDIX C

SOLAR ENERGY EXPOSURE (Sun Exposure)

Potential Health Effects of Sun Exposure

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV Radiation has both positive and
negative effects. Positive effects of UV radiation include warmth, light, photosynthesis in
plants, and vitamin D synthesis in the body. UV radiation also increases moods in
people and kills pathogens. However, overexposure to UV radiation has adverse
health effects, including skin damage, eye damage, and skin cancer.

Skin Damage

UV-related skin disorders include actinic keratoses and premature aging of the skin.
Chronic exposure to the sun also causes premature aging, which over time can make
the skin become thick, wrinkled, and leathery. With proper protection from UV radiation,
however, most premature aging of the skin can be avoided.

Eye Damage

Cataracts are a form of eye damage in which a loss of transparency in the lens of the
eye clouds vision. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Research has
shown that UV radiation increases the likelihood of certain cataracts. All of these
problems can be lessened with proper eye protection from UV radiation.

Skin Cancers

Long-term overexposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. The four types of skin
cancer are: Melanoma, Nonmelanoma, Basal Cell Carcinomas, Squamous Cell
Carcinomas.

Employee Sun Overexposure Risk Factors

The factors that may increase the risk of skin cancer are:

Fair skin A history of sunburns.

Excessive sun exposure Moles
Precancerous skin lesions A family history of skin cancer.
A personal history of skin cancer Fragile skin.
Exposure to environmental hazards Age.

Sun Overexposure Risk Reduction

Employees can implement the following protections to block harmful sunrays:

EH&S 18
• Work in the shade whenever possible.
• Cover limbs by wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Be sure to
follow application directions on the bottle or tube.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim cap. Wide brims protect the neck, ears, eyes,
forehead, nose, and scalp from sun exposure. Baseball caps do not provide
equal protection.
• Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses (eye protection). Sunglasses should be labeled
as blocking 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
• Limit exposure during the time of day when UV rays are most intense, which is
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

EH&S 19