1. PURPOSEwalking; Periodically operating a hand tool > w/o much physical exertion Administrative,...

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM REVISION DATE: 2/18/2020

DOCUMENT NAME: SP #46 - HEAT STRESS PROGRAM PAGE: 1 of 12

1. PURPOSE

The Heat Stress Program has been developed to provide guidance and oversight for the activities involving elevated temperatures during occupational responsibilities at the Lake Charles facility.

2. SCOPE

This procedure applies to all Westlake employees and Westlake-supervised contractors who participate in work activities that have the potential for exposure to heat in their work environment: (1) routine work activities at and around hot processes; (2) work while wearing semi-permeable/impermeable suits within Westlake owned and/or operated facilities; and (3) work during seasonal hot weather (ex: summer-like weather). Other contractors working at a Westlake site must follow a program that is comparable to this requirement.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1. Employee - The employee is responsible to follow good work

practices designed to prevent heat stress. He/she must also be aware of the signs/symptoms of heat stress, drink sufficient amount of water, use appropriate PPE, report all heat related conditions and incidents to their supervisor, and maintain overall good health. Employees must notify their supervisor of any factors that may affect their ability to work in a hot environment (ex: chronic illness or medication).

3.2. Supervision - The supervisor is responsible to ensure that all

feasible administrative and engineering controls have been implemented to prevent heat stress. Supervision should work with the Industrial Hygienist to determine and implement appropriate work/rest schedules, administer good work practices, and take appropriate actions to prevent heat stress.

3.3. Industrial Hygiene - The plant Industrial Hygienist is responsible for

program administration including: development of a written program; oversight of heat stress monitoring/assessment; establish work/rest guidelines; assist supervision with implementing work/rest schedules; and develop & review training material. The assessment may incorporate a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and/or metabolic expenditure rates.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



3.4. Medical - The Licensed Health Care Provider is responsible to evaluate the employee for individual risk to adverse effects from heat stress exposures, treatment for heat stress, and assess the information collected from heat stress incidents. Adherence to the Medical Guidelines Manual is required for all persons included in the heat stress medical surveillance program.

4. PROCEDURE

4.1. Identification – The intent of the procedure is to ensure the core

body temperature remains close to normal. The procedure functions by limiting the amount of work (tool) time an individual is exposed to in elevated temperatures while completing specific types of workloads (Refer to Table 2). Also, use this procedure to prepare and implement a heat exposure plan, which should incorporate the review of the heat index.

4.2. Exposure Assessment - A heat stress assessment was conducted

in all areas where the work environment and/or job task signify a risk for heat stress. Periodically, the heat stress program will be reviewed and new heat stress mechanisms will be assessed.

4.2.1. Personal Risk Factors- It is recommended that workers with personal risk factors consult a health care provider prior to working in in a hot environment. Personal risk factors include, but are not limited to:

• Prior heat stroke • Repeated heat exhaustion • Cardiac or kidney disease • Pregnancy • Obesity • Older Age • Certain Medications

4.3. Sources of Risk – Workers become overheated from two primary

sources: (1) the environmental conditions in which they work and (2) the internal heat generated by physical labor. Furthermore, employees working outdoors need to factor in air temperature and humidity when assessing the risk of a job/task.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



4.4. Heat Index - The heat index is a single value that takes both

temperature and relative humidity into account. Therefore, the higher the heat index the hotter the weather feels. As an example, if the air temperature is 96°F and the relative humidity is 65%, the heat index (how hot it feels) is 121°F (Refer to Table 1 and 2). The heat index is a better measure than air temperature alone for estimating the risk to workers from environmental heat sources. Also, the following must be taken into consideration even when the heat index is lower:

Work in direct sunlight

Perform prolonged or strenuous work (Refer to Table 2)

Wear heavy protective clothing or impermeable suits (Refer to Appendix A)

Workers who are new to an outdoor job The tables below are to be used as guides to prepare and implement a heat exposure plan. The plan can be communicated through the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and/or the Job Safety Instructions (JSI).

4.5 Work Rest Schedule – After obtaining the heat index temperature from Table 1, utilize Table 2 to develop the appropriate work/rest schedule. Note: The work/rest table should only be used as a reference. All work/rest cycles should be discussed with your supervisor and/or a Health and Safety Representative prior to the job/task


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



.

Table 1:

Caution Moderate High Very High to Extreme

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/images/heatindex.pnghttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/images/heatindex.pnghttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/images/heatindex.pnghttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/images/heatindex.png


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



Table 2: Guidelines for Work/Rest Schedules

Work Demands

Task/Assignment

Examples

Heat Index

Breaks/Rest Periods

Light

Clerical/Admin. duties; Gathering light weight equipment; Standing

with occasional walking; Periodically operating a hand tool

w/o much physical exertion

Administrative, Lab,

Environmental, Safety, Operations,

Security, Maintenance,

Shipping, Training

< 111°F Normal Breaks

> 112°F

Break Extensions: AM – 15 minutes PM – 15 minutes

Moderate

Continuous hand tool work with some

exertion; Sporadically pushing/pulling items

114°F

Contact IH

Heavy

Continuous Intense and repetitious arm

and trunk work (bending/reaching);

Carrying heavy loads (>30lbs); Fast pace walking; Shoveling;

Manual sawing

Special tasks/assignments;

Outages; Talk to supervisor for work

demand specifications

---

Discuss work/rest schedule with the Industrial Hygienist or Health and Safety Mgmt.

4.6 Protective Measures and Controls – All heat related illness can be prevented. Elimination, acclimatization, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be utilized to protect workers from heat related illness.

4.6.1. Elimination – elimination of labor intensive tasks and if possible

implement automation of tasks.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



4.6.2. Acclimatization – Acclimatization is a gradual physiological adaption that improves an individual’s ability to tolerate heat stress. It involves exposing employees to work in a hot environment for progressively longer periods. Five to seven days of gradual exposure to heat should allow the individual to become conditioned to working in the hot environment. Full acclimatization can take up to 2 weeks. Acclimatization is loss when when activity under those heat stress conditions is discontinued, and a noticeable loss occurs after four days and may be completely lost in three to four weeks.

4.6.3 Engineering Controls

4.6.3.1 Ventilation

General ventilation is used to dilute hot air with cooler air (generally cooler air that is brought in from the outside). A permanently installed ventilation system usually handles large areas or entire buildings. Portable or local exhaust systems may be more effective or practical in smaller areas.

Air treatment/air cooling is used to reduce the temperature of the air by removing heat (and sometimes humidity) from the air.

Air conditioning is a method of air cooling. An alternative to air conditioning is the use of chillers to circulate cool water through heat exchangers over which air from the ventilation system is then passed.

Local air cooling can be effective in reducing air temperature in specific areas. Two methods have been used successfully in industrial settings:

o Cool rooms can be used to enclose a specific workplace or to offer a recovery area near hot jobs.

o Portable blower with a built-in air chiller. The main advantage of a blower, aside from portability, is minimal set-up time.

4.6.3.2 Convection

Utilizing fans, etc. in the work area (as long as the air temperature is less than the worker’s skin temperature). Changes in air speed can help workers stay cooler by increasing both the convective heat exchange (the exchange between the skin surface and the surrounding air) and the rate of evaporation. Because this method does not actually cool the air, any increases in air speed must impact the worker directly to be effective.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



4.6.3.3 Heat Conduction Methods include insulating the hot surface that generates the heat and changing the surface itself.

4.6.3.4 Heat Reflective Barriers Polished surfaces make the best barriers, but special glass or metal mesh surfaces can be used if visibility is a problem. Barriers should be located so that they do not interfere with air flow, unless they are also being used to reduce convective heating. The reflective surface of the barrier should be kept clean to maintain its effectiveness.

4.6.3.5 Shielding

With some sources of radiation, such as heating pipes, it is possible to use both insulation and surface modifications to achieve a substantial reduction in radiant heat. Instead of reducing radiation from the source, shielding can be used to interrupt the path between the source and the worker.

4.6.4 Administrative Controls and Work Practices

4.6.4.1 Communication and Training

Utilize the JSA and/or the JSI to communicate the heat exposure plan

All employees who work in hot process areas, assigned to hot tasks and/or work in hot environments (including seasonal hot environments) shall receive an annual CBT training on how to recognize the effects of heat stress. Refresher training (safety blitzes monthly safety slides, gang box/toolbox talks, etc.) shall be given to all employees at the onset and/or during the seasonal hot environments (summer).

4.6.4.2 Hydration

Frequent fluid intake schedule

Provide adequate supply of water/electrolyte replacement beverages

o Employees should be encouraged to drink small volumes (approx. 1 cup) of cool water about every 20 minutes while working on hot tasks or in hot environments. Plain water is always the preferred beverage to prevent heat stress. Commercial electrolyte supplement fluids may be beneficial during the period of acclimatization. Salt tablets should never be used under any circumstances.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



4.6.4.3 Work Demands

Reduce metabolic/workload or the physical demands of the task where possible (Ex. Excessive lifting or digging with heavy objects).

Consider the type of work/task and appropriately assign the labor needed to safely complete the job (Refer to Appendix A).

Rotate workers in and out of a job; vary tasks

Allow time for workers to acclimate to a hot environment

4.6.4.4 Scheduling

Work/rest schedules shall be followed for areas where hot process and work tasks exceeding the Threshold Limit Value are performed. Rest periods can be minimized if taken in air-conditioned areas. There are certain routine breaks and rest periods that are incorporated in the employee’s schedule (Refer to Table 2). Tool time is the time an employee is actually working with the tool/equipment. The tool shall be in the worker’s hand and he/she shall be exerting some type of force and accumulating a work load on the body. This is the work (tool) time that should be calculated when determining work/rest schedules when working on hot tasks or in hot environments.

Hot jobs should be scheduled for the cooler part of the day, and routine maintenance and repair work in hot areas should be scheduled for the cooler seasons of the year.

4.6.5 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Water or air cooling vests

Cooling Bands

Radiant heat protection: (face shields, aprons, protective hoods, suits, etc)

Wetted clothing

Gloves

Employees exposed to combinations of metabolic and environmental heat exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) shall be provided with and use heat-protective clothing/equipment (Ex: Furnace Operators).


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



4.7 Outages/Special Circumstances - Maximum permissible work times shall be established for critical jobs and cleanup activities by the supervisor of the employees performing the work using the information in Table 2 and Appendix A. Special consideration need to be made for any employee working in air temperatures greater than 90°F while wearing any other clothing (ex: slicker suit, Tyvek, impermeable coveralls, etc.).

4.8 Medical Surveillance - Employees are identified by their job title because of the

nature of their work and required duties. The physician will take into consideration if they are identified as Insulators, Furnace Operators and Emergency Response Team (E-Squad) and will add additional testing.

5 DEFINITIONS

5.1 Heat stress is any combination of environmental and workload conditions

that places excessive demands on the normal regulation of body temperature. Mild or moderate heat stress may cause discomfort and may adversely affect performance and safety, but is not harmful to health. When heat stress approaches human tolerance limits, the risk of heat-related disorders increases. Heat related injuries and illnesses can include:

5.1.1. Heat Stroke occurs when the body’s system of temperature regulation

fails and body temperature rises to critical levels. This condition is caused by a combination of highly variable factors (work load and environmental heat load). Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal. The primary signs and symptoms of heat stroke are confusion; irrational behavior; loss of consciousness; convulsions; lack of sweating; hot, dry skin; and high body temperature (> 105°F). Seek medical treatment immediately.

5.1.2. Heat Exhaustion. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are headache, nausea, vertigo, weakness, thirst, and giddiness. Seek medical treatment immediately.

5.1.3. Heat Syncope (fainting). The brain does not receive enough oxygen because blood pools in the extremities. As a result, the exposed individual may lose consciousness.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



5.1.4. Heat Cramps are usually caused by performing hard physical labor in a hot environment. These cramps have been attributed to an electrolyte imbalance caused by sweating. It is important to understand that cramps can be caused by both too much and too little salt. Cramps appear to be caused by the lack of water replenishment. Thirst cannot be relied on as a guide to the need for water; instead, water must be taken every 15-20 minutes in hot environments

5.1.5. Heat Rashes are the most common problem in hot work environments. Prickly heat is manifested as red papules and usually appears in areas where the clothing is restrictive. As sweating increases, these papules give rise to a prickling sensation. Prickly heat occurs in skin that is persistently wetted by unevaporated sweat, and heat rash papules may become infected if they are not treated. In most cases, heat rashes will disappear when the affected individual returns to a cool environment.

5.1.6. Heat Fatigue - A factor that predisposes an individual to heat fatigue is lack of acclimatization. The use of a program of acclimatization and training for work in hot environments is advisable. The signs and symptoms of heat fatigue include impaired performance of skilled sensorimotor, mental or vigilance jobs. There is no treatment for heat fatigue except to remove the heat stress before a more serious heat-related condition develops.

5.2 Tool Time – work being performed with your body, use of a tool or any hardware for continuous intervals of time.

5.3 Tool Time Support - any work related task that is not tool time. This includes an employee’s normal and special assignment activities that don’t involve physical exertion on one’s body.

5.4 Rest – minimal physical activity (sitting or standing), accomplished in

shade if possible.

5.5 Relative Humidity – a dimensionless ratio, expressed in percent, of the amount of atmospheric moisture present relative to the amount that would be present if the air were saturated. Since the latter amount is dependent on temperature, relative humidity is a function of both moisture content and temperature.


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



6 REFERENCES

6.1 General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and

Health Act (OSHA) of 1970

6.2 OSHA Technical Manual, Section III, Chapter 4, Heat Stress

6.3. Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substance and Physical Agents &Biological Exposure Indices, 2019

6.4. NIOSH Working in Hot Environments. Publication No. 86-112.

6.5. National Institutes of Health, Heat Stress Program, June 2012

6.6. Westlake Global EHS Requirements, Heat Stress, July 2011

6.7 Westlake Medical Guidelines Manual, Section 4, Page 14-16; Medical Examinations

for Hazwoper Assignments, SCBA Use, High Heat Stress Assignments, or Use of Fully-Encapsulated Suits

6.8. OSHA 1910.132, Personal Protective Requirements, General Requirements


LAKE CHARLES

DOCUMENT #:4301-06-474



Appendix A. – Action Steps for Heat Exposure

Category Air Temp with Regular Clothing (1)

Air Temp with Other Clothing/PPE (2)

Action Steps

l 110°F > 100°F All Category III + and approval

of team leader

(1) Regular clothing – FRC, Nomex, coveralls, etc. (2) Other clothing / PPE – Slicker suits, Tyvek, impermeable coveralls (for asbestos),

disposable coveralls, welding leathers, bunker gear, Hazmat PPE, etc. (3) Special work/rest schedules must be developed for work involving decontamination

where access to water is unfeasible Note: Appendix A is utilized for all employees that are acclimated to the

particular environment and/or hot process they are involved.

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