Heat Illness: Plan Water, Rest, Cooling, and Emergency Help

Know the hazard

Team: General Small Business. Topic: Occupational Health.

Heat affects indoor and outdoor work. Physical effort, humidity, radiant heat, clothing, and lack of acclimatization can add to the risk. The employer should assess the actual conditions and provide an appropriate heat prevention plan instead of waiting for someone to feel ill.

Use the controls

Use the planned water, rest, and cooling opportunities. New and returning workers may need a gradual increase in heat exposure and closer observation. Watch for headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, or unusual behavior in yourself and coworkers, and report symptoms promptly. Do not leave a symptomatic person alone or send them to rest somewhere out of sight.

Work within the safe plan

Confusion, collapse, seizures, or other signs of possible heat stroke require immediate emergency action. Call emergency services, move the person to a safer cooler location if this can be done safely, and begin rapid cooling while following the emergency plan and dispatcher instructions. Do not give oral fluids to someone who cannot safely drink. A worker does not need to stop sweating to have heat stroke. Today, we will confirm that help, cooling, and a clear location are available before the hot task begins.

Discuss with the crew

A new outdoor worker becomes confused and unsteady but says they only need to finish one more section.

Question: Is this a normal rest-break situation?
Answer guidance: No. Treat possible heat stroke as an emergency; obtain emergency help and begin cooling promptly.

Question: What should have been planned beforehand?
Answer guidance: Heat assessment, acclimatization, work-rest and cooling arrangements, monitoring, and emergency response.

Prepare, act, and follow up

Leader preparation: Identify the cooling location, drinking water, work-rest plan, and emergency address.

Put it into practice: Identify who calls for help and who stays with a symptomatic worker while cooling begins.

Supervisor follow-up: Review the day's heat controls and applicable current requirements before assigning exposed work.

Official reference: OSHA — Heat Exposure
https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure

Awareness briefing. Apply current site procedures and applicable requirements. This talk does not replace required qualification, practical training, exposure assessment, medical evaluation, or a written program.

Suggested session: 5-7 minutes, including discussion and activity. Prepared October 18, 2026; recheck current requirements before use.

Show the crew

Identify who calls for help and who stays with a symptomatic worker while cooling begins.