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Policy Area

ESH-Environment Safety & Health

Procedure Number

ESH100.2.IH.23

Procedure Title

Evaluate and Control Thermal Stress Hazards

Procedure Manager

HOOPER, LISA Z.

Status

Active

Subject Matter Expert

  • Jared Mowrer
  • Daniel Kuey (Dan)—CA Contact

 

Applicability, Exceptions, and Consequences

This corporate procedure applies to all Members of the Workforce whose work activities on Sandia-controlled premises may include exposure to thermal stressors that can lead to adverse health effects.

Exceptions to, or deviations from this procedure must be approved through the Executive Policy Sponsor or Policy Area Manager, if delegated. Click here to view Contacts for Corporate Policies, Processes, and Procedures. See CG100.1.7, Request an Exception to a Policy, Process, or Procedure, for directions on how to obtain an exception to this procedure.

Granting or permitting exceptions or violations of policy, process, or procedure without authority, regardless of position or title, may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Violating a policy, process, or procedure may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A printed copy of this document may not be the document currently in effect. The official version is located on the Sandia National Laboratories Sandia Restricted Network (SRN).

Procedure Overview

This procedure describes requirements for safely managing thermal stress, including stressors related to work activities that involve both natural temperature extremes (i.e., hot and cold) and man-made sources, such as working next to boilers or in facilities where temperature and humidity can be controlled (e.g., walk-in environmentally controlled rooms such as walk-in freezers, environmental test chambers, or foundries).

Procedure Requirements

Training

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Ensure Required Training Is Completed Managers

Ensure that Members of the Workforce complete the required training identified in ESH100.2.IH.23  prior to performing the indicated work activity or fulfilling the indicated role.

Note: See Sandia corporate procedure HR100.2.1, Identify and Complete Sandia Required Training for all Members of the Workforce.

Manage Thermal Stress Hazards

Activity Responsible Individual Required Action
Manage Heat Stress Managers
  • Determine if there is a potential for heat stress in the workplace by considering the following:
    • Elevated temperatures while working outdoors during summer months or indoors next to high-temperature generators, such as boilers or in temperature-conditioned chambers.
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) that does not allow air and water vapor movement.
    • Conditions which require greater work effort than is normal.
    • Conditions for which Members of the Workforce have not been acclimated.
  • Contact the division ES&H team industrial hygienist to perform an exposure assessment (industrial hygiene) of potential heat stressors and recommend appropriate control measures for the prevention of heat stress. Control measures include one or more of the following:
    • Shade canopies for protection against direct sunlight.
    • Shielding to protect against radiant heat sources.
    • Access to cool drinking water prior to and during the task.
    • Scheduled work/rest breaks in protected cool areas.
    • Use of ventilation/fans.
    • Use of cooling vests.
  • Ensure that Members of the Workforce for whom heat stress has been identified as a workplace hazard are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat strain, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke; and how to prevent these conditions.
  • Ensure heat stress prevention control measures are implemented.
Manage Heat Stress Members of the Workforce
  • Use specified control measures to mitigate the potential for heat stress.
Manage Cold Stress and Cold Injury Managers
  • Determine if there is a potential for cold stress in the workplace by considering the following:
    • Cold temperatures while working outdoors during winter months or indoors in temperature conditioned chambers.
    • Wet clothing, especially foot wear, in temperatures below 60°F.
  • Contact the division ES&H team industrial hygienist to perform an exposure assessment (industrial hygiene) of potential cold stressors and recommend appropriate control measures for the prevention of cold stress. Control measures include one or more of the following:
    • Heating the work site.
    • Warming shelters.
    • Wind barriers.
    • Work/warming regiments.
    • Cold weather gear.
  • Ensure that Members of the Workforce for whom cold stress has been identified as a workplace hazard are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, chilblains, trench foot, and frostbite; and how to prevent these conditions.
  • Ensure cold stress prevention measures are implemented.
Manage Cold Stress and Cold Injury Members of the Workforce
  • Use specified control measures to mitigate the potential for cold stress.

 

Implementing Tools

Website

Thermal Stress website

Additional Drivers

  • 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety and Health Program

Training Requirements

Responsible Individual Required Recommended
Members of the Workforce who have potential exposure to thermal stressors under normal operation conditions or in forseeable emergencies OTS101 N/A
Managers whose roles include the responsibility of overseeing the activities of persons who are exposed to thermal stressors OTS101 N/A

 

Related Processes and Procedures

Processes

Procedures

  • ESH100.2.IS.1, Work Safely in High Injury Potential/Remote Operations.
  • ESH100.2.IS.8, Assess Workplace Hazards and Provide and Maintain Personal Protective Equipment.
  • ESH100.3.3, Provide Health, Benefits, and Employee Services.

Change Summary

Date Summary
07/29/2011

Administrative

Modified

  • Updated link to industrial hygienist (Requirements & Instructions)
  • Corrected dictionary links for Members of the Work Force and heat stress (Requirements & Instructions).
  • Updated link to Thermal Stress website (Forms, Links & Tools).
12/09/2010

Administrative

Modified

Corrected link to industrial hygienist. (Requirements & Instructions)
12/03/2010

Administrative

Modified

  • Update SAPLE links to subject matter experts for system consistency.
  • Un-merged merged cells in requirements table for display.
  • Updated dictionary links to term identification numbers for system consistency.
05/10/2010

Administrative

Modified

Corrected link to exposure assessment in Requirements & Instructions.