Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan

Pod

Long Beach Community College District is committed to protecting employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses. LBCC’s Heat Illness Prevention Program covers outdoor work and indoor work areas where employees may be exposed to elevated temperatures, humidity, radiant heat, physical exertion, or protective clothing that restricts heat removal.

Heat illness is preventable

Employees working in hot conditions must have access to:

  • Fresh, suitably cool drinking water at no cost
  • Shade or an appropriate indoor cool-down area
  • Preventative cool-down rests when needed
  • Heat illness prevention training
  • Acclimatization and additional monitoring when newly assigned to hot work
  • Reliable communication and emergency assistance

Employees may use these protections and report heat-related hazards without retaliation.

What employees should do:

  • Drink small amounts of water frequently; do not wait until you are thirsty.
  • Take a preventative cool-down rest whenever you feel the need.
  • Report symptoms immediately in yourself or a coworker.
  • Follow required work-rest schedules, monitoring procedures, and supervisor instructions.
  • Watch coworkers for changes in coordination, speech, behavior, alertness, or work performance.
  • Do not work alone when a buddy system or other monitoring method is required.
  • Recognize the warning signs

Heat illness can progress quickly.

Heat exhaustion may include:

  • Headache, nausea, or dizziness
  • Weakness, irritability, or unusual fatigue
  • Heavy sweating and thirst
  • Elevated body temperature
  • Reduced urine output

Stop work, move to a cool area, begin cooling, and notify a supervisor. Give small sips of cool water only if the person is fully alert and able to swallow.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Warning signs may include:

  • Confusion or unusual behavior
  • Slurred speech or staggering
  • Vomiting or seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Very high body temperature

If heat stroke or another severe heat illness is suspected:

  1. Call 911 immediately.
  2. Move the employee to shade or a cooler area.
  3. Begin rapid cooling with cool water, cold wet towels, or another effective method.
  4. Remove unnecessary outer clothing and personal protective equipment.
  5. Stay with the employee until emergency responders arrive.
  6. Do not send the employee home, allow them to drive, or leave them alone.
  7. Provide responders with the campus, building, room, or outdoor location; the nearest entrance; and access instructions.
  8. Do not give anything by mouth to a person who is confused, unconscious, vomiting, or unable to swallow safely.

Contacts

  • Emergency: 911
  • Campus Safety, non-emergency: 562-938-4910 or 562-435-6711
  • Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety:
  • riskmanagement@lbcc.edu 562-938-4030

Program documents

  • [Download the LBCCD Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (PDF)]
  • [Download the LBCC Heat Stress Control Process (PDF)]

For questions about heat illness prevention, training, workplace conditions, or required controls, contact Risk Management and Environmental Health & Safety.