BSEE Safety Alert 486 - Heat Advisory

SAFETY ALERT

Safety Alert No. 486 Contact: bseepublicaffairs@bsee.gov July 16, 2024 Phone: (800) 200-4853

Heat Advisory: BSEE Urges Offshore Workers Follow Guidelines to Ensure Safe Operations and Avoid Heat Related Illnesses The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is urging workers, supervisors, and crews to be vigilant and cautious as extreme heat has arrived on the Outer Continental Shelf. BSEE advises those working offshore to be on the lookout for symptoms of heat-related illnesses, be prepared to treat them, and be diligent in taking preventative steps.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines heat exhaustion as “the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating.” They caution heat exhaustion is most likely to affect people with high blood pressure and those working in a hot environment.

Typical symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Headache • Irritability • Nausea • Thirst • Dizziness • Heavy sweating • Muscle cramps • Elevated body temperature • Weakness

According to the CDC, heat stroke “occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down.” The CDC lists the typical symptoms of heat stroke as follows:

• Confusion, altered mental status • Seizures • Slurred speech • Very high body temperature • Loss of consciousness • Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating

Heat stroke can be fatal if treatment is delayed.

BSEE therefore recommends that operators and contractors, where appropriate, consider the following:

• Advising employees and contractors on the prevention and treatment of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

o Measures for preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke include: ▪ Drinking plenty of water or a sports drink. ▪ Taking breaks in areas with air conditioning or shade to cool off. o Heat exhaustion treatment includes: ▪ Providing medical attention to the person showing symptoms. ▪ Staying with the employee until medical attention arrives. ▪ Removing the employee from the hot area, giving them cool liquids to drink, and encouraging the employee to drink. ▪ Removing unnecessary clothing, such as shoes, socks, and jackets. ▪ Cooling the worker with cold compresses, or having the employee wash their head, face, and neck with cold water. o Heat stroke treatment includes: ▪ Providing medical attention to the person showing symptoms. ▪ Staying with the employee until medical attention arrives. ▪ Moving the worker to a cool, shaded area, and removing unnecessary clothing. ▪ Cooling the worker via: • Cold water or ice bath (if possible). • Wetting the skin. • Placing cold wet clothes on the skin. • Soaking clothing with cool water. • Circulating air around the employee.

• Considering implementing work policies requiring periodic breaks when working outside in high temperatures. According to the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), when the heat index is 100°F, a 15- minute break should be taken for each 45 minutes of moderate intensity work. For additional information refer to CDC’s Work/Rest Schedules fact sheet.

• Implementing Stop Work Authority when necessary.

• While conducting a job safety analysis, identifying existing or potential safety, health, and environmental hazards associated with each step and considering using the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool application.

Please note: The information obtained from the CDC is only as current as the date issued. Please refer to the CDC website at Heat Stress Related Illness | NIOSH | CDC for the latest information. This information does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

– BSEE –

A Safety Alert is a tool used by BSEE to inform the offshore oil and gas industry of the circumstances surrounding a potential safety issue. It also contains recommendations that could assist avoiding potential incidents on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Category: Personnel Safety