Close Call Alert – Heat Illness – The BC Forest Safety Council

Safety Alert Type: Other

Location: Avalon Dryland Sort

Date of Incident / Close Call: 2008-07-11

Company Name: C.N. Danroth Contracting Ltd.

Details of Incident / Close Call:

It had been a very hot day.
A young Scaler had been feeling dizzy with an upset stomach.
He had informed two of the other Scalers that he was feeling sick.
He told them that he would try and tape one more row.
Half way through the row of logs a near by bucker who was the sort FAA noticed he did not look good.
The FAA immediately realized that the worker was suffering from heat illness and got him off the sort and attempted to cool him down.
The FAA and Sort Supervisor took the Scaler to a Medical Clinic that was 15 minutes away; the worker was delirious.
The patient was then transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital where he was treated for heat stroke and released later that day.

Suggestions:

Ensure all workers know how to recognize symptoms of heat illness in themselves and others and know what to do if it occurs.
Ensure all workers know how to protect themselves from heat illness.
Tailgate workers about the topic when the weather begins to get hot.
Create bulletins to have available to workers to caution them about heat illness.
Supervisors to ensure workers have adequate breaks, time out of the sun if needed and plenty of water.