Washington — OSHA is seeking comment on a proposed rule aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.
According to a notice of proposed rulemaking published Aug. 30, employers would have to formulate and implement a heat-related illness and injury prevention plan for each worksite. That plan would need to be in writing if the employer has more than 10 employees.
Employer requirements under the standard – or “initial heat trigger” – would go into effect when the heat index in the work area reaches 80° F or the wet bulb globe temperature is “equal to the NIOSH Recommended Alert Limit.”
Wet bulb globe temperature is a metric that combines air temperature, humidity, radiant heat from sunlight or artificial heat sources, cloud cover, the angle of the sun, and air movement such as wind speed. WBGT is measured in the sun as opposed to heat index, which is measured in the shade, according to the National Weather Service.
OSHA’s requirements include:
- Monitoring employees for heat stress
- Identifying heat hazards
- Providing water (1 quart per employee per hour) and rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas
- Indoor work area controls
- Acclimatization
- “Effective two-way communication” between employer and employees
- Maintenance of personal protective equipment for heat