Use AssuredPartners’ Risk Management Center to Add New Policies and Procedures

As temperatures rise, certain workplace safety issues come to mind. This article highlights managing heat stress, which is OSHA’s focus this year.

Managing Heat Stress

Heat stress refers to environmental factors that make coping difficult for the body. Stressors include high temperature, direct sun exposure, etc. Heat strain, however, refers to the body’s physiologic response to unfavorable conditions.

Heat-related illnesses occur among employees when workplace activities overwhelm their body’s ability to cool itself. These situations are exacerbated by heat stressors such as high temperature, high relative humidity, low air movement, intense physical exertions, or sometimes, personal protective equipment, which can diminish the body’s ability to cope by sweating.

Employer Responsibilities

As you probably expected, many responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of employers. Each employer with exposure to heat stressors should develop policies that guide their heat stress management process. Major concerns here will include the following:

• Establishment of safe work practices.
• Provision of adequate water or water/electrolyte mixture.
• Managing work/rest cycles - especially as it relates to acclimatization.
• Evaluating environmental conditions, medical surveillance of employees, employee training, and emergency response.

Developing a Heat Stress Program

• Knowledge of the hazards of heat stress;
• Recognition of predisposing factors, danger signs, and symptoms;
• Awareness of first-aid procedures for, and the potential health effects of, heat stroke;
• Employee responsibilities in avoiding heat stress;
• Dangers of using drugs, including therapeutic ones, and alcohol in hot work environments;
• Use of protective clothing and equipment; and
• Purpose and coverage of environmental and medical surveillance programs and the advantages of  worker participation in such programs

Using the RMC “My Content” Function

Using the “My Content” function in the Risk Management Center (RMC), AssuredPartners, clients can create a fully customizable internal training program by uploading and tracking their new hire documents and onboarding training.

The “My Content” function is located under the Resource Tab, as shown in the image below.

In “My Content,” you can create folders, upload documents and Toolbox Talks, and upload up to 60-minute videos (the videos must have a link from a source such as YouTube). The image below shows how easy it is to add content.

Everything with a gold box and an * is required information. Once the documents are uploaded to “My Content,” they can be assigned through Training Track. Employees can access the training and documents through the employee training portal. They can also access and download the documents at a future date through the employee portal. One example is uploading a new OSHA-approved Heat Stress SOP, and the employees can review the document, electronically acknowledge it, and download it on their mobile devices.

Using this functionality in the Risk Management Center allows our clients to stay compliant with safety training and updated OSHA regulatory training and policies. They can also track all of their training and resources in one place. This allows AssuredPartners to provide a simple way to keep our employers’ workforce safe and compliant as new OSHA and regulatory updates happen.