Heat Stress: Employee Safety in HAZWOPER

PPE is all about keeping safe, right? How about when the sun is beaming down on your HAZMAT suit on a hot, summer day? Your “safe barrier” is now working against you, and you’re starting to suffer from heat stress. 

According to occupational injury data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dozens of workers die every year from heat exposure. Thousands more report sickness due to working in hot or humid environments. Heat hazards are present across many industries. Although the risk of exposure to high temperatures can be identified in practically all occupations, it will focus on the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response side of it. 

In this training designed for a HAZWOPER setting, you will identify common risk factors of environmental heat and bodily overheating, learn the main dangers of heat exposure, and explore safe work practices. Staying safe during hot, humid, or physically demanding tasks first involves recognizing potential hazards, unique physiological considerations, and workplace conditions. 

Federal law entitles all employees to a safe workplace per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) General Duty Clause (29 USC 654 S5(a)(1)). OSHA’s Hazwoper Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) and related standards (e.g., 1926.65) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations (RCRA, 40 CFR Parts 239-282). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has strong recommendations related to heat stress. Certain states also have their own OSHA-approved plans to follow if relevant to your location. This training does not constitute medical or legal advice and is for general informational purposes only.

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