OSHA Hour: Heat Stress and OSHA—What Employers Need to Know

While California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) promulgated a heat stress standard some time ago, state plans in Oregon and Washington recently took action with regard to heat stress. In addition, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently added heat stress to its regulatory agenda. In the meantime, OSHA continues to issue General Duty Clause citations alleging heat hazards even though case law from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission makes it difficult for OSHA to prove a violation. These cases present complex issues, including whether employees have been properly acclimatized, how employees’ personal characteristics affect their ability to regulate heat, and the economic and technological feasibility of abatement measures demanded by OSHA. Does your heat stress program protect employees and will it pass muster with OSHA? This timely webinar will address these issues and provide practical tips for handling heat stress inspections.