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Dive brief:
- The Labor Department on Tuesday released a proposed rule designed to protect millions of indoor and outdoor workers USA from extreme heat.
- The proposed rule would require employers to develop a Heat injury and illness prevention plan to control and mitigate risks in workplaces affected by excessive heat. The rule would require employers to assess heat hazards and, when necessary, provide potable water, breaks and indoor heat control. It would also require plans for workers not used to working in extreme heat.
- Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, the public will be able to submit written comments. OSHA also said it plans to hold a public hearing on the rule after the written comment period closes.
Diving knowledge:
OSHA has had one National Emphasis Program on thermal safety from April 2022, but the proposed rule would be an enforceable guideline, unlike general suggestions such as the “water, rest, shade” credo – to help protect workers from illness and injury by heat This April, the rule overcame a hurdle when the OSHA Advisory Committee of Health and Safety in Construction unanimously recommended that the agency “proceed expeditiously” on a notice of proposed rulemaking.
Under the proposed rule, the Heat Injury and Illness Plan must address how a company will adequately monitor the environment to determine whether high heat becomes occupationally hazardous, using a measure such as the heat index or temperature of the wet balloon
The rule states that when the temperature reaches or exceeds one of these high heat triggers, employers must provide appropriate protections. For example, if it’s hot enough, employers should provide access to at least one quart per employee per hour of clean, potable, and adequately cool water.
In addition, the proposed rule establishes requirements for breaks in places with natural or artificial shade or air conditioning, if it is an enclosed space, and has specific profiles for rest areas for work environments interior or exterior.
The standard also provides guidance for personal protective equipment, what time constitutes a break, and acclimatization requirements for workers unaccustomed to heat.
“Workers across the country are passing out, suffering from heatstroke and dying from heat exposure just doing their jobs, and something needs to be done to protect them,” said Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary occupational health and safety. “Today’s proposal is an important step in the process of receiving public input to craft a win-win final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers.”
Leaders of the National Occupational Safety and Health Council hailed the proposal as a “critical step” to protect workers as climate change fuels warmer weather across the country.
“This rule provides a clear framework for promoting a culture of safety and responsibility,” Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, co-executive director of National COSH, said in a statement shared with Construction Dive.
This story has been updated to include correct language about protecting unaccustomed workers.
