September 27 2020

OSHA Updates Guidance On Face Masks In Hot Weather

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has updated guidance for wearing masks while working in hot and humid weather or while doing strenuous activity. This update partially addresses the concern of many in the construction industry especially in the West.

“In all reality, face coverings are adding another layer of potential heat,” says Rodd Weber, corporate safety director for PENTA Building Group based in Las Vegas. “And we’ve had several subcontractors say that they’ve had people go down with heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.” *https://www.equipmentworld.com/masks-extreme-heat-construction-workers/

The guidance allows for workers to work without masks if outside and able to maintain a distance from others of at least six feet. OSHA also suggests that face shields can be an alternative when cloth masks aren’t feasible. When employees are deaf or hard of hearing shields may provide the only practical solution, though it is recommended that the shield wrap around the sides of the face and extend below the chin.

In hot climates sweat tends to ruin disposable masks and makes cloth masks difficult to use. The new guidance will help landscapers, construction workers and roofers in particular. Of course when workers have to be within six feet of each other, masks must be worn.

OSHA’s recommendations appear to directly reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidelines. (see below) *

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Pre-screen employees
- Reassess employees’ medical conditions to determine if they are still safe to work in an environment with additional heat stress risk from
  - COVID-19 related engineering controls,
  - PPE (for healthcare personnel),
  - Cloth face covering or mask use, and
  - Social distancing practices.
Re-acclimatization
- Place employees returning after an absence of one or more weeks on a re-entry work schedule that will slowly reintroduce them to working in a hot environment. Employees can often re-acclimatize in 2 to 3 days upon return to work. NOTE: Workers new to the job may take up to 14 days to fully acclimatize.
Buddy system
- Assign buddies and remind them to assess each other for symptoms of heat-related illness. Verbal check-ins are important because social distancing and wearing cloth face coverings or masks, or respirators (for healthcare personnel) make it harder to see signs and symptoms.
- If the work process allows for it, maintain social distancing during any check-ins.
Cloth face coverings or masks and PPE (e.g., for healthcare personnel)
- Provide workers with cloth face coverings or masks and any required PPE that provide proper protection but minimize heat stress. Some considerations include:
  - Cloth face coverings or masks that are lightweight and light in color.
  - Protective garments (if worn) made of breathable materials that are also lightweight and light in color.
  - Damp or dirty cloth face coverings or masks need to be replaced with clean ones.
  - If use of cloth face coverings or masks may increase the risk of heat-related illness, consult with an occupational safety and health professional to determine the appropriate cloth face covering or mask for the setting. Outdoor workers may prioritize use of cloth face coverings or masks when in close contact with other people (e.g., during group travel or shift meetings) and remove them when social distancing is possible. CDC provides information on adaptations and alternatives that should be considered when cloth face coverings or masks may not be feasible.
- Consider allowing workers to remove cloth face coverings or masks outdoors if work positions or seating arrangements provide more than 6 feet between employees.
  - If storing the cloth face covering or mask while at work, employees should place the used cloth face covering or mask into a dry, breathable container or paper bag labeled with the employee’s name.
Work/rest schedules
- Consider altering the current work/rest schedule to account for the additional heat stress.
  - Decrease the amount of work and increase the length and frequency of rest breaks. Frequent and longer rest breaks may be needed so that workers have adequate time to remove cloth face coverings or masks, practice proper hand washing, and rehydrate while maintaining social distancing requirements.
  - Schedules will also need to be adjusted with increasing temperatures and humidity.
- Ensure managers who oversee work/rest schedules and manage cooling stations are trained to recognize heat-related illnesses and actively monitor employees for these conditions.
- If possible, modify schedules so that the majority of work hours or the most physically demanding tasks occur overnight or during cooler parts of the day.
Daily work completion targets
- Reassess daily production targets if social distancing requirements or increased rest schedules add time to an employee’s tasks. Consider decreasing the number of tasks to be completed on each shift.
Make sure the facility is well ventilated.
- Work with facilities management to adjust the ventilation to deliver the maximum amount of fresh air to occupied spaces while maintaining the humidity at 40-60%. If possible, increase the filter efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units to highest functional level.
- Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible in non-climate-controlled indoor workspaces by opening windows and doors and using fans when environmental conditions and building requirements allow. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk for occupants. This will increase evaporative cooling effects for workers and will help dilute any respiratory droplets produced by workers.
- If fans such as pedestal fans or hard mounted fans are used at the worksite, take steps to minimize air from fans blowing from one worker directly at another.
Cooling stations
- Ensure that cooling stations provide shading from the sun. Position cooling or misting fans and arrange seating so that air does not blow respiratory droplets from one employee to another seated nearby.
- Arrange seating in the cooling station to maintain social distancing during rest breaks. Proper social distancing is very important during breaks as workers will need to remove respirators or cloth face coverings or masks to rehydrate.
- If providing pre-packaged water bottles or rehydration fluids (such as sports drinks), place individual bottles at each seat before employees enter the cooling station at the start of each rest cycle to avoid congregating around water refill stations.
  - At each worksite, ensure that water is always easily accessible so employees can rehydrate frequently and as needed.
- If water refill stations are unavoidable:
  - Use markers and signs to promote social distancing in the refill line.
  - Consider issuing refillable drinking bottles to employees or allowing them to bring their own to be stored inside the cooling station if they cannot or do not plan to carry them while working. Refillable bottles should be clearly marked with the employee’s name and designated work/rest cycle.
  - If using disposable paper cones or cups, store them in an enclosed container near the refill station to reduce the risk of contamination if someone coughs or sneezes.
  - Avoid contact between the water dispenser and a drinking cup or bottle when refilling it.
  - If cooling stations are located indoors, consider using no-touch activation methods for water dispensing.
Emergency first aid plan for heat related illnesses
- Immediately remove worker from hot environment to cooling station.
- Remove PPE (normally worn for job tasks), cloth face covering or mask, and excess clothing from affected employee to facilitate cooling.
- Provide cool liquids to drink, if the employee is alert.
- If heat stroke is suspected:
  - Call 911.
  - Remove all PPE from affected employee to facilitate emergent cooling and resuscitation measures.
  - While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, cool the employee aggressively with any means available such as immersion in cool water or an ice bath or use of misting fans. Note that use of any immersion cooling methods in someone with heat stroke with a depressed mental status should include careful positioning and constant monitoring to prevent submersion and aspiration of cooling fluids.
  - Other employees providing first aid or resuscitation should continue wearing their PPE (e.g., healthcare personnel) or cloth face coverings or masks.