High Heat Hazard Alert: Employers Must Protect Workers from Heat
Summer brought a punishing heat wave to many parts of the United States, California included. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 people die each year from heat-related illness — and construction workers in particular are exposed to extreme environments that put them at increased risk of heat-related illnesses. As potentially dangerous heat continues into the fall, CAL/OSHA reminds all employers to protect their workers with these preventive measures:
Although a heat standard is already in place for outdoor places of employment in California, new regulations have also been proposed to apply for indoor places of employment when the temperature reaches at least 82 degrees (water, cool-down areas, acclimatization for new employees, emergency response procedures). Additional requirements would apply to indoor workplaces when the temperature reaches above 87 degrees with workers present.
CAL/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call CAL/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.