OSHA to Ramp Up Enforcement During ‘Extreme Heat’ of 80 Degrees or More
Citing “the growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events” due to climate change, the US Department of Labor (DOL) announced the implementation of an “enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards” through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees will prompt OSHA to visit construction and agricultural workplaces more frequently to inspect for heat-related and other hazards.
DOL also announced the launch of a rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard. The initiative applies to indoor and outdoor worksites. Employers are encouraged to “implement intervention methods on heat priority days proactively, including regularly taking breaks for water, rest, shade, training workers on how to identify common symptoms and what to do when a worker suspects a heat-related illness is occurring, and taking periodic measurements to determine workers’ heat exposure.”
“Suffice it to say, there is a high likelihood of additional OSHA enforcement coming to job sites under the auspices of an extreme heat threshold that starts in weather that is common this time of year and that most Texans consider pleasant,” said Dallas BA Executive Officer Phil Crone. “Members should put an emphasis on their safety plans and let us know if they encounter OSHA enforcement.”
The Texas Association of Builders offers a model jobsite safety plan that was developed with input from OSHA safety experts, custom and volume builders, remodelers and attorneys who specialize in OSHA law. These can be purchased by builder members at TexasBuilders.org alongside the newly-updated construction contracts.
The full release from DOL about their expanded heat safety measures can be found on OSHA.gov.