The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will start the rulemaking process today to create a new federal heat standard. There aren’t many details yet on what the rule might look like, but the Biden administration’s announcement hints at a few things it could cover: thresholds for heat stress, heat exposure monitoring, and planning for acclimating to heat.
OSHA also plans to beef up enforcement of existing labor standards when it comes to heat-related hazards. When the heat index — a measure that includes humidity and temperature — rises above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the agency says it will “prioritize” heat-related issues when it comes to workplace inspections and interventions. It also plans to pay closer attention to industries it deems as having a higher risk of heat stress, including agriculture, construction, delivery workers, and warehouses.
This should’ve always been considered
The upper areas of warehouses here get up to 50. My friend wore an absorbent jacket that had been soaking in ice water for those sections. We looked up if there were OHS temperature guidelines, and found that it was something “to be negotiated between employer and employee”. It gets very hot here regularly :(
If Texas hadn’t banned local municipalities from setting water break standards for outdoor work, this would never have happened because the DNC is at best reactionary. Therefore, thanks Texas chuds in power for forcing the Biden admin to do literally anything positive for once.
I can’t wait to see the regulations that they come up with. I’m sure they will powerful and comprehensive, and not industry captured bullshit that fails to actually address the issues.
“One 5 minute water break for every 4.1 hours of work under uninterrupted direct sunlight with temperatures above 90 degrees and humidity at or above 90%”. Something token and useless for the vast majority of people who actually need it. Oh your shift is only 4 hours and a cloud floated by once so you had partial shade. Sorry no break back to work!
Warehouse owners in shambles.
When the heat index — a measure that includes humidity and temperature — rises above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the agency says it will “prioritize” heat-related issues when it comes to workplace inspections and interventions.
That number is WAY lower than I would have expected, I’m curious to see how this will play out.
That number is WAY lower than I would have expected, I’m curious to see how this will play out.
It’s lower than my threshold. I get uncomfortable at 27C and begin to cooldown the room I’m in when this happens. I make a habit of checking the temperature whenever I naturally reach “I need to cooldown the room” and it’s always somewhere between 27-28. 80 farenheit is 26.66
