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
Galaxy Brain idea: Get actual action against climate change by claiming that, since there are people who work outside, climate change creates a hazardous work environment.
I’m just kidding, that will never work. The judge would just say “no” with no reasoning behind it.
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 :(
cool, do COVID next
Concerning
