Severe heat in Oregon during the summer months sometimes results in public safety advisories that spur questions and concern from employees. Extreme temperatures may affect some UO workspaces and employees, and in turn affect normal operations.

The university typically maintains regular operations during heat advisories with no change to work or class schedules. Should a rare extreme event disrupt these operations, the standard procedures apply for weather-related notifications, such as cancellation, delayed start, and early closure decisions.

Guidance

Safety and Risk Services (SRS) provides guidance and resources for working and heat stress. Supervisors and employees should prepare for high temperatures by reviewing the safety sheet and completing the online training SRS provides. This is essential for employees and supervisors of employees in positions predisposed to heat stress because of workplace environmental factors.

Working and Heat Stress
Guidance and Resources

Employees

• Communicate with your supervisor if you have concerns about your workspace or assignments during periods of severe temperatures.
• Report a work-related injury or illness as a result of heat exposure to your supervisor and submit a Workplace Injury Report.
• If you work remotely, you still need to know the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses.
• If you are unable to report to work because of extreme environmental conditions, you may use accrued vacation, compensatory time, exchange time, personal leave, or leave without pay to cover the missed work time, if applicable and approved by your supervisor (to the extent approval is required). Use of accrued sick leave is appropriate only in the case of illness. If there are duties that you can perform remotely, you should do so, with written approval from your supervisor or under a remote work agreement.

Supervisors 

There are workspaces around campus that may be too warm for normal operations. Supervisors are asked to keep the following principles in mind to ensure the safety and comfort of employees during severe weather:

• If the work and equipment (such as with a laptop computer and mobile phone) allow, be flexible in work locations. Allow employees to work in a more comfortable space, including at home, where feasible.
• If feasible, allow employees to use their accrued vacation leave or, if appropriate, sick leave.
• Consider relaxing workplace dress expectations to allow employees to be more comfortable and dressed appropriately for the heat.
• Check on employees frequently. Help ensure that they are staying hydrated and not overheating and allow for extra breaks when possible.
• If your employees cannot safely work on campus or if the university closes due to inclement heat, and they have duties that can be performed from a remote location, assign them this work in writing.

If an employee experiences a work-related injury or illness as a result of heat exposure, they should submit a Workplace Injury Report.

Classroom Instruction

High temperatures may affect classroom instruction. Faculty and instructors who teach in rooms without adequate cooling should work with their departmental scheduler, who will coordinate with the Office of the Registrar, to use their best efforts to find an alternative location for their class(es).

Questions

Please contact your direct supervisor or department leadership with questions. Employee questions may also be directed to the Human Resources Service Center at hrinfo@uoregon.edu, or to Safety and Risk Services at ehsinfo@uoregon.edu.