Workers Comp

Biden announces measures to protect workers from heat hazards

Louise Esola

September 21, 2021 Reprints

Regulation Workers Comp Coverage Workplace Safety More + Less -

The Biden administration on Monday announced enhanced and expanded measures by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to combat hazards associated with extreme heat exposure faced by workers indoors and outdoors.

According to a statement issued by the Department of Labor, there has been “widespread under-reporting” of heat-related injuries and deaths; 43 heat-related deaths were reported to OSHA in 2019, and at least 2,410 others suffered serious injuries and illnesses from heat.

To emphasize its concern and take necessary action, OSHA is implementing a National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards and launching a rulemaking process in October to develop a workplace heat standard to provide employers with guidance.

In addition, the agency is forming a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group to provide better understanding of challenges and to identify and share best practices to protect workers, according to the statement.

OSHA has already implemented an intervention and enforcement initiative recently to prevent and protect workers from heat-related illnesses and deaths while they are working in hazardous hot environments. That newly established initiative, which OSHA says has been helpful for those working in agriculture and construction, prioritizes heat-related interventions and inspections of work activities on days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition to prioritizing inspections of heat-related complaints, referrals and employer-reported illnesses, OSHA plans to expand the scope of other inspections to address heat-related hazards where worksite conditions or other evidence indicates these hazards may be present.