Heat Stress - doe-std-1098-99cn1a0121

DOE-STD-1098-99

Radiological Control

Radiological Health Support Operations

March 2005

Individuals using respiratory protection shall:

Perform fit checks of close-fitting respirators to ensure a proper seal before entering areas requiring respirator

use

Be clean shaven in the area of fit, if applicable

Use corrective lenses, if needed, that are approved for respirators

Be trained to leave the work area when experiencing respirator failure

Be trained to remove their respirators to avoid life-threatening situations when exiting an area after respirator

failure [see 29 CFR 1910.134 and ANSI Z88.2].

534 Heat Stress

Heat stress may result from working in areas of high heat, humidity, and radiant heat; working in protective clothing; and

using respirators, particularly where other protective equipment is required. Heat stress has occurred at ambient

temperatures less than 70F when multiple sets of anti-contamination clothing or plastic suits were in use or strenuous

work was required.

The planning stages for work in hot environments should address heat stress controls.

Job supervisors should inform their personnel of heat stress precautions prior to work on job assignments in hot

environments. Precautions that should be considered during work that includes a high probability of heat stress

include:

Engineering controls to moderate the work area environment;

Appropriate work time limits;

Use of protective clothing made of materials that wick perspiration away from the body;

Use of body cooling devices;

Provision of beverages at or near the work site, using appropriate contamination controls;

Relaxation of protective clothing requirements.

If an individual begins to feel symptoms of heat illness, the individual should immediately notify the nearest co-

worker, exit the area, remove personal protective equipment, notify the supervisor, and rest in a cool area. In such

cases, medical assistance should be provided.

535 Half-Face Respirators

Half-face respirators have limited applications because of the design of the facial seal area. As a result, their permitted

protection factor is low. Full-face respirators are generally preferred over half-face respirators because of the significant

increase in protection offered with minimal loss of worker comfort.

The use of half-face respirators is permitted in situations where intakes of radioactive material will be low, such as

those resulting in a few millirem, and where industrial and safety considerations warrant, such as during the

operation of heavy equipment.

Due to the limited protection afforded by half-face respirators, DOE discourages the use of half-face respirators for

emergency evacuation purposes.

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