On Dec. 22, 麻豆视频 again pushed back on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration鈥檚 (OSHA) effort to establish a one-sized-fits-all national standard for heat injury and illness prevention in outdoor and indoor settings.
Along with construction industry partners, 麻豆视频 put forth against such an approach in response to the agency鈥檚 Small Business Advocacy Review panel report, including that:
- The proposed initial ambient temperature heat trigger of 82掳F and an initial heat index trigger of 80掳F, and high-heat ambient and heat index triggers of 90掳F and 87掳F, respectively, not only fail to account for the unique climatic conditions across the United States, but they also lack any scientific backing or support;
- The proposed regulatory acclimatization schedules for two groups of workers: new workers and those workers returning to the worksite after having been away from the job for some period (the 鈥渞eturning worker鈥) must allow for flexibility; and
- The proposal to require 10- or 15-minute breaks every two hours, depending on the heat triggers, do not account for the actual work being performed and could undermine the safety of the worksite.
With the near completion of this small business review step in the regulatory process, OSHA still must put forth a proposed standard and finalize it, among other things, that normally take several years. The political pressure to rush this process, however, is exceptional. Rest assured, 麻豆视频 is working to ensure that the agency follows the regulatory process and steps back from establishing prescriptive and unworkable requirements.
For more information, contact Nazia Shah at Nazia.Shah@agc.org or Kevin Cannon at Kevin.Cannon@agc.org.