OSHA
Over the past two decades , global temperatures have been steadily on the rise . This summer , we ’ ve seen triple-digit highs in parts of the country that are typically associated with cool , wet weather . These extreme heat environments can lead to heat-related illnesses and worsen pre-existing health conditions . Ultimately , if left untreated , heat-related illness can lead to death .
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), a branch of the United States Department of Labor , is designed to ensure health and safety standards for employees are met and enforce these standards by providing training , outreach , education , and assistance for employers . OSHA was created in response to the rising number of injuries and fatalities in the American workplace , which have evolved over the years as new work hazards continue to be identified . Today , heat stress is one of the top health concerns for working people .
Although rising temperatures are a concern for everyone , they are particularly hazardous for working people because they don ’ t always have control over their working environment . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , 907 working people have died and over 70,000 were seriously injured from heat stress between 1992 and 2019 .
Even though heat is the number one cause of weather-related deaths among working people , OSHA has yet to set a standard for temperature in work environments . In the absence of a set standard , OSHA has continued to rely on the General Duty Clause of the OSHA Act of 1970 to cite employers for heat hazards , but many agree this is not sufficient to protect employees from heat-related illness and death . Over the past decade , there has been a strong push from advocacy groups and organizations to have OSHA enact a heat standard to expressly protect workers from heat exposure .
Advocacy groups point out that global warming , climate change , and the influx of hotter work environments is unlikely to reverse . Furthermore , research has shown that many heat stress fatalities occur in places without basic heat protection . All previous attempts to enact a standard were shut down , but in June of 2021 , the Biden Administration announced a potential heat stress protection rule in the biannual regulatory agenda . The proposed standard includes mandatory access to the following :
• Rest Breaks : Limiting exposure from hot environments
• Personal Protective Equipment : Providing employees with cooling garments and breathable fabrics
• Shade : Employer must provide access for shade during breaks
• Hydration : Providing workers with sufficient amounts of water that is essential to maintaining proper hydration
• Heat Acclimatization Plan : A plan that introduces new workers or those who work in hotter that usually environments to an acclimatization period of 7 – 14 days
Our team is staying current with these pending changes to OSHA . You can look to the Atlas website for updates on the situation and what it may mean for your company . If you are unclear on what the new standard would mean for you , please reach out to your Atlas advisor for more details . +
Kevin Crawford has over 14 years of experience in the safety and security industry . He is responsible for providing risk control services to various Atlas clients , with a focus on customer service and technical assistance . Kevin holds a BA in business administration and a Risk Management and Insurance Certificate from the University of Hawaii at West Oahu .
BY : KEVIN CRAWFORD RISK CONSULTANT ATLAS INSURANCE AGENCY
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