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The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), along with 37 other organizations, 35 individuals, and the Maryland Heat Illness Prevention Coalition (MHIPC), urged Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) in a letter to withdraw its draft heat stress standard. MOSH published its proposed standard October 7. The proposed state rule “is completely inadequate and will not […]
With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Related Hazards being effective as of April 8, 2022, employers are advised to take note of the program’s instructions to avoid “largely preventable” heat-related illnesses. “Despite widespread under-reporting, 43 workers died from heat illness in 2019, and at least […]
Construction work is labor intensive and most often it is done in non-climate-controlled spaces. Studies show that 50% to 70% of most outdoor fatalities occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments. With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, construction workers face threats of extreme heat and heat-related illnesses and injuries on […]
On July 21, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced the launch of a heat awareness campaign called “Operation Beat the Heat.” Operation Beat the Heat is a coordinated education, outreach, and enforcement effort to protect migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) national emphasis program […]
On July 7, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Atlanta regional office warned employers in the Southeast of the dangers of working in hot weather, both indoors and outdoors. The agency explained that incorporating water, rest, and shade into the workday can make the difference between ending it safely or suffering serious injuries or […]
This week, regional Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offices in Chicago; Kansas City, Missouri; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, urged employers in the Great Lakes region, Midwest, and Dakotas to protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazards posed by excessive heat. The agency pointed to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures showing reports of 344 […]
EHS Now’s exclusive online summit is taking place on June 15-16, 2022. Join us for this free virtual event catered to EHS professionals looking to develop and refine their skills on a variety of topics, including ESG, safety culture, safety data, heat stress, and more. Here’s a look at what’s happening on Day 2. Day […]
State occupational safety and health regulators in California and Oregon reminded employers to protect workers from heat hazards and comply with their states’ heat illness prevention standards. On June 2, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) announced the release of employer assistance resources for the state’s new heat illness prevention rule. The […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine heat stress and illness prevention and how to protect workers who work in high temperatures. As summer begins and temperatures rise, EHS leaders and management must protect their workers from the […]
With high temperatures expected throughout California, on May 23, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) reminded employers of outdoor workers to be prepared and take the necessary precautions to prevent heat illnesses. California has a state standard requiring that employers develop and implement written heat illness prevention plans, provide fresh water and […]