Heat-stress work/rest cycle + hydration plan, Florida agricultural job sites (summer heat survey record).

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it.

Bring

• WBGT meter or a validated on-site heat-index estimate (OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app, or a site WBGT reading) for the shift
• the NIOSH/ACGIH WBGT-based work/rest and workload table (light/moderate/heavy metabolic rate x WBGT band)
• a hydration log (water intake and timing, electrolyte use) and a marked water source at the job site
• an identified shade/cool-down location at the job site
• an acclimatization tracking log (days on this job/site, workload percent, symptoms) for new or returning workers
• a clothing/PPE note (fabric, layers) for the WBGT clothing-adjustment factor

Steps

1. 1. Screen first: heat-illness history, cardiovascular or kidney disease, pregnancy, and any medication that impairs heat tolerance (diuretics, some cardiac or psychiatric medications). Anyone symptomatic right now (confusion, collapse, hot/dry or profusely sweating skin with altered mental status) STOPS the assessment immediately and routes to EMERGENCY (call 911) — do not proceed with planning.
2. 2. Record the worker's exposure status: days worked on this job or job site, and any absence of more than a week (illness, vacation, injury, seasonal layoff, weather shutdown). NIOSH/CDC surveillance places most occupational heat fatalities in the first days of heat exposure on a job, before the body has adapted (Bonauto 2017) — this status decides the acclimatization ramp below.
3. 3. Estimate or record the workday's WBGT (site meter reading, or the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app using local temperature and humidity), and classify the task's metabolic workload (light/moderate/heavy) and clothing.
4. 4. Look up the matching NIOSH/ACGIH work/rest ratio for that WBGT-and-workload cell and set the shift's work/rest cycle (minutes worked per hour vs. minutes resting in shade or a cool area). Unacclimatized, new, or returning workers use the lower, more protective action limit for that cell, never the full-exposure limit.
5. 5. Set a hydration schedule: about one cup (~237 mL) of water every 15-20 minutes of work in the heat, not exceeding roughly 1.5 L/hour or 12 L/shift (over-hydration risks exertional hyponatremia), with electrolyte replacement for sweating beyond about 2 hours or visibly heavy sweat loss.
6. 6. Build the acclimatization ramp for a new or returning worker: start at roughly 20% of the full workload/duration on day 1, increase by no more than about 20% per day, reaching full exposure over roughly 7-14 days. Hold or restart the ramp after any absence longer than a week.
7. 7. Record the WBGT/workload band, the work/rest cycle, the hydration schedule, the acclimatization day and ramp step, and a self-monitoring symptom checklist (cramps, heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache = STOP, cool, hydrate; confusion, slurred speech, collapse, seizure, or hot/dry OR profusely sweating skin with altered mental status = EMERGENCY, call 911, cool immediately); sign.

What counts as done

• Completed heat-illness history and medication screen for each worker covered (cleared, or routed to a clinician; any current symptom routed to EMERGENCY before proceeding)
• Heat index (or WBGT) read at the work site with a time stamp, the task workload recorded, and the matching work/rest cycle set from the NIOSH/ACGIH table
• A written break and water schedule for the crew (break times, shade location, water volume per hour, the point at which a worker is sent to rest), with the crew lead named as the person who calls a stop
• For a new or returning worker, a recorded ramp (day count, workload percent) rather than a full first day
• A symptom checklist and the stop line recorded: confusion, collapse or altered mental status means stop work, start cooling and call emergency services

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.