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Plan structure
A working plan has eight sections: scope, responsibilities, hazards, controls, training, monitoring, emergency response, and recordkeeping. Each should be short and specific.
Roles and responsibilities
Name a plan owner, define supervisor duties, and clarify what workers are expected to do — including the right to report symptoms without retaliation.
Emergency response procedures
Document the exact sequence for suspected heat exhaustion and heat stroke — including who calls emergency services, who initiates cooling, and how to brief responders on arrival.
Rollout and refresher training
A plan that sits in a binder is worthless. Walk the team through it before each high-heat season and refresh whenever staffing, sites, or processes change.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the first thing to do if a worker shows signs of heat stroke?
- Call emergency services immediately, move the worker to a cooler area, and begin active cooling — cool water, ice packs at the neck/armpits/groin — while waiting for responders.
- Does a heat illness prevention plan need to be in writing?
- Yes. OSHA and most state regulators expect a written, site-specific plan that's accessible to workers in a language they understand.
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