California has been a pioneer leading the nation in heat illness prevention standards. As a pioneer, it is important to make necessary updates with regard to worker safety. That’s just what’s on the horizon as California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) sends it proposal for updates to the Standards Board. With a heat illness prevention standard that is almost a decade old there is likely plenty of room for improvement. After all, outdoor workers fall victim to heat-related illnesses and injuries, including deaths, each year.
Some major highlights of the proposed revisions include:
- Employer requirements to provide closer access to water
- Lowering the heat threshold when employers must provide shade from 85 to 80 degrees
- When workers take a “cool-down rest” they cannot be ordered to resume work until symptoms of heat illness are abated
- Lowering the high heat procedure threshold from 95 to 85 degrees
- Expansion of heat illness training topics
- Specific instruction as to the written heat illness prevention procedures
- Evaluation of “immediate action” by supervisors when a worker shows signs of heat illness to include emergency procedures
Compliance Poster Company’s Labor Law Research and Compliance Team is keeping a watchful eye on any developments. In the meantime, there are several heat illness prevention training reinforcement products to help you comply with California’s existing Heat Illness Prevention Standard.
- Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention poster #74705
- Heat Illness pamphlets #74750
- Heat Illness Prevention program #60706
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