IRATA document comment form 034

O.3 Protecting against hot conditions

NOTE In the combined document, sections increase by one number, e.g. O.3 becomes O.4.
Comments after review (DMC) Organization Date First Floor, Unit 3, Eurogate, Business Park,
Ashford, Kent, TN24 8XW, UK.
Comments at DRP review. Collated by Paul Seddon IRATA Equipment and Standards Committee Tel: +44 (0)1233 754600 Fax: +44 (0)1233 754601
04 May 2016
Email: info@irata.org web: www.irata.org

Office use Clause Paragraph/ *Type Comment Proposed change by the person Working group
No./ Sub Figure/Tabl of com- commenting reviewers’
clause e/ Note ment observations
No./ (e.g. Table (Comments should be constructive and always (on each comment
1) (G, T or accompanied by a proposal in the adjacent column)
Annex submitted)
(e.g. E)
1 SK 4.2)and
O.3.1.2 2016-May-04
G Delete these clauses See comment
O.3.13 to
O.3.1.6 Note from convenor: not sure why Partially accepted
Leave 3.2.3 and 3.2.4

Line 4 E Remove the word “normal” Replace with the word “temperate” 2016-May-04
2 MC O.3.1.3
Accepted

which can lead to severe dehydration if not Just curious if it sounds better to say, ”If 2016-May-04
3 RA 0.3.1.4 enough water is drunk throughout the day not enough water is drank throughout the
day”. Instead of drunk? Drunk is correct

G Consider changing: ….Thus, in high humidity To: …. Thus, in high humidity conditions, 2016-May-04
4 RG O.3.1.4 conditions, the natural cooling procedure is the natural cooling procedure process is
reduced…. reduced. Accepted

G Consider change: …Workers become overheated in To: Workers become overheated in two 2016-May-04
5 RG O.3.1.5 two primary ways: the environmental conditions and primary ways: the environmental
body heat generated by physical actions. conditions and body heat generated by Accepted
physical actions activity.

Table O.3.5 E Consider to split the display of temperature ranges for e.g.: 103 °F to 115 °F 2016-May-04
6 RG easier reading. 39 °C to 46 °C Table deleted

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 G Consider a paragraph to outline the risks of heat e.g.: “When planning the work for a given 2016-May-04
7 RG related injuries for technicians working on ropes, task in hot and humid conditions, consider
which potentially could require a rescue when heat the potential for heat related issues that may Accepted
related illnesses incapacitate a technician. result in the need to rescue a technician. New clause O.3.12.3.
Plan your access and retrieval systems
accordingly keeping in mind rig4rescue
arrangements, conditions of technicians and
the stand by
team.”
2016-May-04
8 EB 1stphrase E
Paragraph O.3.2.2 has some overlap with paragraph Removing overlap will produce a
O.3.2.2 O.3.1.3 more readable text.
Partially accepted

Table O.3.5 T The temperatures quoted in the table do not correlate Change heat index temperatures to match 2016-May-04
9 MC O.3.2.5 to tables O.3.3, O.3.4 or the bullet points in O.3.2.5
Partially accepted
Table O.3.5 deleted.

10 SK O.3.3 O.3.3.3.1 to E Consider reducing these clauses See comment 2016-May-04

O.3.3.3.6
Accepted

G Question: Is the paragraph: Safety in the Heat an Consider shifting this paragraph to the end 2016-May-04
11 RG O.3.3
IRATA adopted standard to work by or a of the document and bringing forward O.3.4
consideration?? - O.3.11. Not accepted

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 T, G The document is fabulous. Insert the study of American soldiers (use 2016-May-04
12 FRN O.3.3 of sun protection)
Thank you
My opinion would be to emphasize more on the
dangers of skin cancer, this is a subject that is Insert the WHO study. Partially accepted
discussed in the World Health Organization and there UV will be covered in O.4.
are many studies on this subject.

Follows a link to a story on American soldiers and the

use of sunscreen that I found interesting
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/06/25/military-
veterans-report-limited-use-sun-protection-while-
deployed-study-finds.html

Link Ultraviolet radiation and the INTERSUN

Programme
http://www.who.int/uv/health/en/

G Consider a chapter or reference about the importance
13 RG of acclimatisation of technicians coming from
moderate/cooler climates to hot environs.
It is vital for technicians to understand 2016-May-04
acclimatisation, how it works and time
frames involved. People may get/feel Partially accepted
pressured into performing above their usual Text added to O.3.12.1.
capabilities, particularly when starting a
new job.

T Emphasize on doing measurements on the job Care should be taken to perform 2016-May-04
14 EB O.3.3.6 location. Especially temperature levels can vary a lot measurements on the working location
depending on height. itself instead on easy to reach nearby Accepted.
locations. Especially temperature levels New last sentence added to
can vary a lot depending on the height. O.3.3.6.

15 SK G Not clear what is meant by new worker Clarify 2016-May-04

O.3.3.7b
Addressed

Paras 1,2,3 E Add the word “core” after body ( to read 2016-May-04
16 MC O.3.4.1 &4 “body core temperature”)
Partially accepted
core body temperature used

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 Line 2 E Add the word “core” after body ( to read 2016-May-04
17 MC O.3.4.2 “body core temperature”)
Partially accepted
core body temperature used

18 SK E Delete last sentence as it implies that those before are See comment 2016-May-04
O.3.4.2 not medical emergencies
d)
Accepted
and c) also modified

19 SK O.3.5.1.5 to E Duplication Reduce duplication 2016-May-04

O.3.5 O.3.5.2.3
Accepted and addressed

Line 2 E Remove the word “expensive” as this portrays the Treatment should be in the patient’s best 2016-May-04
20 MC O.3.5.3.4 wrong sentiment interest and not price.
Clause deleted

TWL G NB No rope access technicians to work alone in any No rope access technician should work 2016-May-04
21 IS Table O.3.6 of the 3 working zones alone so is this not a superfluous
comment? Accepted
Column title modified

TWL? No limits on self-paced work for educated, hydrated Define educated? 2016-May-04
22 IS workers
Educated deleted

TWL? G This appears to be a document based on the middle 2016-May-04

23 IS east. Is it applicable to all areas of hot working
climates? Legislation is mentioned which probably has Addressed
equivalent in other areas Some references to Middle East
deleted

Line 3 E Add the word “core” after body ( to read 2016-May-04

24 MC O.3.6.1 “body core temperature”)
Partially accepted
core body temperature used

E Font change Change to the same as the rest of 2016-May-04

25 MC O.3.7.2 the document
Accepted

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 st T Remove the word “outdoor” from this phrase as Workers new to jobs in hot conditions are 2016-May-04
1 phrase
26 EB O.3.12.1 prevention of heat related illnesses is not specifically generally….
outdoor related. Accepted

27 SK T Add bullets to cover risk assessment, planning for carry out continuous risk 2016-May-04
O.3.12.2 rescue and provision of emergency contacts assessments, e.g. by monitoring the
temperature and by buddy checking Accepted
for signs of heat-related illnesses
First and last points now covered
plan for rescue; in O.3.12.3 m) and n). Rescue
covered in new O.3.12.2.
provide emergency contacts.

T Include practical prevention arrangements such as job “Job rotation schedules with maximum 2016-May-04
28 EB O.3.12.2 rotation. working times”.
Accepted
Now O.3.12.3

T Consider adding pointer to commercially available e.g. Cooling vests, Cooling snakes in 2016-May-04
29 RG O.3.12.2 temperature relieve products. helmets, spraying of water mist etc.
Accepted
Now O.3.12.3

T Include sunglasses as preventional measure. Provide sunglasses to protect the eyes against 2016-May-04
30 EB O.3.12.3 UV-radiation.
Covered in O.4 (to become O.5)

i) E Overlap with O.3.5.3.2 Removing overlap will produce a 2016-May-04

31 EB O.3.12.3 more readable text.
Not accepted
O.3.5.3.2 is a different section

b) G 15SF not adequate anymore. Consider to raise at least to 30SF 2016-May-04

32 RG O.3.12.3
Partially accepted
SF changed to SPF; 15 changed
to 30

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 B G HIGH FACTOR SUNSCREEN 15 SF Should this not read 2016-May-04
33 IS O.3.12.3
SPF? Should this not be Partially accepted
SPF 50? SF changed to SPF; 15 changed
to 30

Table O.3.7 T Is providing fluid to a patient with heat stroke Will the risk of a patient becoming 2016-May-04
34 MC O.3.12.6 acceptable? unresponsive and taking fluid orally create
an airway hazard? Addressed
Wording added to Table O.3.7:
conscious casualties only.

T Include the effects of reflecting radiation on water 2016-May-04

35 EB General surfaces when working offshore (windfarms
especially). Partially accepted.
Will include in O.4 (to be O.5)

T Perhaps we can include some information on the use 2016-May-04

36 EB General of cooling vests?
Accepted
Wording added to O.3.12.2 (see
d)

T The (draft) annex focusses mainly on the physical
37 EB General side of heat exposure.
Perhaps we can include some examples on “good
practice” in a rope access environment where it is
often more difficult to implement effective
preventive measures due to the isolation of the
workplace and the physical demanding work
Example given; Include sufficient time to 2016-May-04
egress the workplace with a safe margin to
prevent overexposure during egress. Accepted
Consider including pulley systems (rig- Wording added to (new) O.3.12.3
for- rescue) in the rigging when working (see new c).
Rig-for-rescue now covered in
from the top to assist during egress.
new O.3.12.2

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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 G Just to offer some general feedback on working in 2016-May-04
32 ND General hot conditions and control measures we have
implemented which you can take into Noted with thanks
consideration:

* We issue camelbacks to rope access

technicians to stay hydrated whilst working on
ropes.
* We issue electrolytes to rope access
technicians once a day (after lunch) when the
temp is above 32 degrees Celsius.
* Water drinking and rest periods throughout the
day as determined by the L3 supervisor and Risk
Assessment.

KEY RG: Reinhard Grussler; RA: Ryan AuCoin (Crosbie Salamis Ltd); IS: Ian Somers (TRAC Oil & Gas LTD); EB: Erik Birkhoff (Hertel B.V); FRN: Francisco Rodrigo Negreiros (Seabra Tech
2015T); ND: Nadine Drummond (ASP Rope Access); MC: Mike Clayton (Total Access (UK) Ltd); SK: Sheila Kondaveeti

* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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* Comments are general (G), technical (T) or editorial (E). Please mark this column with the comment type.

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