Today, Oregon OSHA announced it has adopted an emergency rule that requires employers to have certain protections in place for workers during periods of high or extreme heat. The requirements expand access to shade and cool water and also include regular cool-down breaks, training, communication, emergency planning and other measures. The temporary rule applies to any workplace – outdoors and indoors – where heat dangers are caused by the weather. The rule and its requirements do not apply if heat-related dangers are not present based on the nature of the work being performed.
The temporary rule is effective immediately and stays in place for 180 days.
OSHA provided the following summary of the rule’s requirements:
When the heat index is equal to or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit employers are required to provide:
- Access to sufficient shade (specifics below)
- An adequate supply of drinking water (specifics below)
When the heat index rises above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, all of the rules for 80 degrees apply and, in addition, employers must:
- Ensure effective communication between an employee and a supervisor is maintained so that an employee can report concerns.
- Ensure that employees are observed for alertness and signs and symptoms of heat illness and monitored to determine whether medical attention is necessary.
- Provide a cool-down rest period in the shade of 10 minutes for every two hours of work. These preventative cool-down rest periods may be provided concurrently with any other meal or rest period required by policy, rule, or law.
- Develop and implement an emergency medical plan and practices to gradually adapt employees to working in the heat.
Access to shade
To be sufficient, shade must:
- Be provided by any natural or artificial means that does not expose employees to unsafe or unhealthy conditions and that does not deter or discourage access or use.
- Either be open to the air or provide mechanical ventilation for cooling.
- At least accommodate the number of employees on recovery or rest periods, so that they can sit in the shade.
- Be located as close as practical to the areas where employees are working.
- Be large enough to accommodate the number of employees on the meal period that remain onsite.
Drinking water
To qualify as an adequate supply of drinking water, it must:
- Be readily accessible to employees at all times and at no cost.
- Enable each employee to consume 32 ounces per hour.
- Be cool (66-77 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (35-65 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Drinking water packaged as a consumer product and electrolyte-replenishing drinks that do not contain caffeine (for example, sports drinks) are acceptable substitutes, but should not completely replace the required water.
- Employers must also ensure that employees have ample opportunity to drink water.
Supervisor and employee training
No later than August 1, 2021, employers must ensure that all employees, including new employees, supervisory, and non-supervisory employees, are trained in the following topics, in a language readily understood, before they begin work in a heat index equal to or in excess of 80 degrees Fahrenheit:
- The environmental and personal risk factors for heat illness, as well as the added burden of heat load on the body caused by exertion, clothing, and personal protective equipment.
- The procedures for complying with the requirements of this standard, including the employer's responsibility to provide water, provide daily heat index information, shade, cool-down rests, and access to first aid as well as the employees' right to exercise their rights under this standard without fear of retaliation.
- The concept, importance, and methods of adapting to working in a hot environment.
- The importance of employees immediately reporting symptoms or signs of heat illness in themselves, or in co-workers.
- The effects of non-job factors (medications, alcohol, obesity, etc.) on tolerance to workplace heat stress.
- The different types of heat-related illness, and the common signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
Cascade will continue to monitor this and we will keep you updated. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!