CALIFORNIA OSHA to Strengthen Heat Prevention Rules for Workers Comp

Cal/OSHA Moves to Strengthen Heat Illness Prevention Regulations

Heat illness prevention regulations, (the first of its kind) requested by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were filed by California’s Department of Industrial Relations’ (DIR) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) a proposal with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to amend California’s current law.

Current regulations require employers to make shade available, provide drinking water, provide training to supervisors and workers, and have included in a written heat illness prevention program a plan for summoning emergency responders.

The amended law is specifically designed to strengthen and improve the standards to protect outdoor workers from the hot summer sun. According to John Duncan, director of DIR and Cal/OSHA Chief Len Welsh the package will include:

1. A requirement for shade to be present at all times and a trigger for shade to be up when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees.

2. It also clarifies employees rights to take a rest in the shade whenever they feel the need to do so to prevent themselves from overheating.

3. Amendments to heat illness prevention regulations will continue until the clarity needed to promote the most effective compliance with the standard is obtained.

4. Proposed amendments will address questions raised among employers about how to comply with the standard. (workersxzcompxzkit)

This year Cal/OSHA conducted 1,971 targeted inspections and identified 507 violations of the safety and health standards. This new effort will help to expand Cal/OSHA’s successful participation and partnership with industry, labor, and community groups. This year a total of 934 heat illness prevention outreach activities were conducted, including seminars, presentations, training sessions, with both workers and their employers.

For more information on heat illness prevention and training materials visit the Cal/OSHA Web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov/heatillness.

Author: Robert Elliott, J.D. Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com has 20 years experience helping employers reduce their workers’ comp costs. His clients normally obtain savings in the range of 20-50% annually.

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