Access to Water | Heat Illness Prevention

• Potable drinking water must be made available at no cost to the employee. 

• Maintain, at all times, sufficient quantities of pure and cool potable drinking water (i.e. enough to provide at least one quart per employee per hour for the entire shift).

• Water must be fit to drink. Water containers CAN NOT be refilled from non-potable water sources (e.g. irrigation wells, sprinkler or firefighting systems). 

• Care must be taken to prevent contamination of the drinking water supplied to the workers.

• Implement and maintain effective replenishment procedures when beginning the shift with smaller quantities.

• Locate the water containers as close as practicable given the working conditions and layout of the worksite. 

              

• Keep it readily accessible, move it with the workers! 

• Encourage the frequent drinking of water.

Remind workers not to wait until they are thirsty!