In California, agricultural employers must provide comprehensive heat illness prevention training to all workers and supervisors, including information on recognizing symptoms, prevention methods, and emergency response procedures, as outlined in Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention Standard (Title 8, Section 3395). Here's a more detailed breakdown of the requirements:
- Training Content:
- Heat Illness Risks: Workers and supervisors must be trained on the risks of heat illness, including the signs and symptoms, and how to recognize them in themselves and others.
- Prevention Methods: Training should cover methods for preventing heat illness, such as providing access to water, shade, and cool-down rest periods.
- Emergency Response: Procedures for responding to heat illness incidents, including first aid and contacting emergency services, must be part of the training.
- Acclimatization: Training should also cover acclimatization methods and procedures.
- Training Frequency:
- All workers and supervisors must be fully trained on all aspects of heat illness prevention, recognition, and response before they are assigned to work in locations where they are at risk.
- Refresher training should be provided as needed.
- Additional Requirements:
- Water: Employers must provide sufficient fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour.
- Shade: Employers must provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes.
- Cool-down Rest Periods: When the temperature equals or exceeds 95 degrees, employers must provide one 10-minute "preventative cool-down rest period" every 2 hours.
- Heat Illness Prevention Plan: Employers must develop, put in writing, and implement effective procedures for complying with the requirements of T8 CCR Section 3395.