Health Information
Ergonomics
Scented Products
High Heat
Avoiding Heat Stress
Diagnosing and Treating Heat Stress
Air Pollution Alerts
High Heat and heat stroke information:
The University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety has established the General Environment Temperature Standard (T° F. Max). The "T-Max" standard states that when the dry bulb temperature reaches 88° F.: "serious consideration be given to either moving the employees to a cooler environment (temporarily of permanently) or to dismiss employees until such time that the temperature has lowered significantly. This temperature is an indicator that the excessive heat could affect the health or safety of employees. The responsibility for the interpretation of this standard rests with supervisory personnel. This standard does not address the discomfort that may be noticed when working in temperatures lower than 88° F."
In order to implement this policy in the University Libraries when T-Max conditions exist, the following practices will be followed:
- provide for more frequent work breaks (e.g. 15 minutes every two hours).
- move the work to a cooler location within the building, if possible or to another building if it is not possible.
- encourage more frequent work breaks to get a drink of water.
- provide a climate-controlled space for staff to take breaks.
- post information on the symptoms of heat exhaustion.
- provide for training on symptoms and dealing with heat-related illness.
If the supervisor elects to dismiss employees until such time as the temperature has significantly lowered, vacation or sick leave may be taken as approved by the supervisor.
With respect to building closing, it is the general practice of the University Libraries to remain open with at least minimal staffing during all published hours of opening, except when the University makes the decision to close, or if there is a clear and present danger to personal safety (e.g. fire, chemical spill, etc.)
The decision to close a University Libraries building rests with the University Librarian or designee, and any emergency service such as fire department, police, etc.
NOTE: While there are few areas where high-heat conditions are chronic, the T-Max Standard can be triggered in any building by failure of an HVAC system, need for prolonged downtime during maintenance or repair, etc. It is important that all staff is informed and that training is available to any staff member.
October, 1998
Avoiding Heat Stress:
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light colored clothing.
- Protect your head and neck from the sun with a ventilated hat.
- Drink lots of non-alcoholic and non-carbonated fluids. (Examples: cold water, cold lemon tea, well-diluted fruit juices, drinks similar to Gatorade. Drink 4-6 ounces every 15-20 minutes. Do not wait to drink fluids until you are thirsty.
- Maintain your salt level by eating foods such as nuts, chocolate bars with nuts, tomato or V-8 vegetable juices, bouillon or dried raisins.
- Take cool breaks during work.
- Avoid diuretics like caffeine and alcohol.
- Plan heavy chores for early morning or late afternoon when the air was cooler.
Diagnosing and Treating Heat Stress:
Heat stress can be divided into four types: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat dizziness and heatstroke.
Heat cramps occur in workers who sweat profusely and replace sweat losses with water but inadequate salt. The cramps tend to occur in muscles used while working and often do not appear until the person relaxes after work.
Heat cramps can be prevented by replacing salt and water loss by increasing dietary salt intake or by drinking a solution of 1/2 teaspoon salt per quart of water.
Heat dizziness occurs in people who are not used to hot humid weather. It is caused by the dilation of the blood vessels near the skin. Dizziness and fainting can occur, especially after squatting or sitting and then standing up suddenly.
Treatment for heat dizziness is helping the person to lie down, removing them from the heat source and giving them lightly salted liquids.
Heat exhaustion usually occurs after sustained heat stress of three or more days and is caused by depletion of water and/or salt. Symptoms include profuse sweating, intense thirst, weakness, headache and cold clammy skin. Treatment involves rest and restoration of body water and salt.
Heatstroke is a serious illness caused by loss of water and important chemicals from the body. Signs of heatstroke are hot, flushed skin, fast strong pulse; dizziness, headache and very high body temperature. Heatstroke victims require immediate attention. Call 911 and move the victim to a cool place, lay them down with their head slightly raised. Clothes should be loosened or removed and the victim should be colled as rapidly as possible by wetting or fanning their body.
FOM Guidelines for scented products
Please consider these issues when deciding to use scented products at work. Exposure to perfume, cologne, after-shave, scented creams or similar products can cause health problems for some people. For individuals sensitive to the chemicals in these products, they can produce migraine headaches, allergy symptoms and asthma. A number of U Libraries staff do suffer form varying degrees of sensitivity to chemical odors.
The size of our offices and the nature of our work often make it very difficult for them to avoid contact with people wearing fragrances. Your consideration can help limit the amount of exposure they have to these products and the related health problems. Please don't hesitate to contact your supervisor if you suffering from these type of sensitivities.
Air Pollution Alerts
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will, from time to time, issue an Air Pollution Alert for the Twin Cities metro area because of fine particle levels.
HEALTH: Everyone should be aware of this advisory, and generally take it easy. Specific health precautions are advised for sensitive groups including those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), adults over 50, and healthy adults and children engaged in vigorous exercise where they breathe deeply. These individuals should reduce or postpone heavy exertion (play shorter games, walk instead of run, rotate players more frequently, etc.) People with heart conditions are especially vulnerable to fine particle pollution.
What YOU can do to improve air quality during this advisory:
- Reduce driving where possible and don't idle your vehicle engine (vehicle exhaust adds fine particles and smog-producing chemicals to the air).
- Postpone indoor or outdoor fires that add fine particles to the air.
- Change time of day for strenuous activity (mornings are the best choice), and reduce duration and intensity of activities (shorten games, rotate players more frequently, etc.).
- Take measures to reduce energy consumption wherever possible.
- Postpone activities with small gasoline or diesel engines, such as lawnmowers, which also emit particles and add to our smog problem.
Please help get the word out. In order to reach as many University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty as possible, we ask that you make an effort to share this information:
- Faculty and instructors may wish to make an announcement in each class during the alert.
- Supervisors should make sure this information is posted in all break and information areas. Those who supervise persons working outdoors should make a concerted effort to alert all of their employees.
- Residence Hall staff should post signage warning of the Air Pollution Alert.
- Everyone should encourage their fellow students, colleagues, and friends to take it easy when our air quality is challenged.
To learn more to or to check hourly updates of the AQI, visit: http://aqi.pca.state.mn.us/hourly
For additional information on reducing air pollution, visit the Minnesota Environmental Initiative website at www.mn-ei.org and click on "Air" for the Clean Air Minnesota program.