The component is not available at this moment. Please contact the site administrator.
The body must adapt when working in hotter environments; acclimatization is the process the body undergoes to adjust to increased heat exposure. According to Cal/OSHA guidance, employees are likelier to develop heat illness if they don't take it easy when a heat wave strikes or when starting a job that newly exposes them to heat. Most people are usually acclimated within four to 14 days of regular work involving at least two hours per day in the heat.
Both the outdoor and indoor heat illness prevention standards contain acclimatization requirements.1
All employees must be closely observed by a supervisor during a “heat wave” — defined as any day in which the “predicted” high temperature will be at least 80° F and at least 10 degrees higher than the average high daily temperature in the preceding five days.
Employers are also required to be extra vigilant with new employees - under the outdoor heat illness prevention standard, close observation by a supervisor or designee is required for the first 14 days of employment when an employee is assigned to a high heat area.
Under the indoor standard, the same observation of a new employee is required when the new employee is assigned to any of the following:
Cal/OSHA guidance indicates that best practices include finding ways to lessen the work intensity during heat waves and the first two weeks of employment.
1. 8 CCR secs. 3395(g), 3396(g)