Calif. Rejects Tough Heat Rules To Protect Workers

Jul 16, 2009 3:56 pm US/Pacific
Calif. Rejects Tough Heat Rules To Protect Workers

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) ― California worker safety officials have rejected new emergency rules aimed at strengthening and clarifying protections for people who work outside this summer.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health failed to vote in favor of proposed regulations that would have set an 85-degree temperature trigger when companies had to take specific steps to protect those toiling in fields and construction sites.

Worker safety officials called for the changes after finding dozens of farm laborers working in high heat with little or no shade or water.

Two board members opposed the changes because they thought the rules shouldn't apply to all industries, only agriculture. Thursday's tied vote means current heat safety standards will stay in force.

http://cbs13.com/local/Calif.Rejects.Tough.2.1089166.html

Yeah, because the heat is somehow less when your doing a different job? Hot is hot, no matter what you are doing.
We have the same thing in the Arctic, just in reverse. When it hits -25 we have cold weather procedures that go into effect for ALL workers.

85 would have me wearing a jacket. People adapt. They have water right????

Full disclosure: I couldn't handle working much less living in Michigan in winter. Cold kills, you guys are nuts up there.

from the article...

Worker safety officials called for the changes after finding dozens of farm laborers working in high heat with little or no shade or water.



more info...

NFWM and the United Farm Workers will be holding prayer vigils throughout this summer in Los Angeles to honor the lives of 15 farm workers who have died heat-related deaths since 2004. Each year, many farm workers are denied water, rest, and shade by their employers as they work for hours under the hot summer sun, despite laws in California to protect farm workers from these very violations. Last summer alone, 6 farm workers lost their lives and with the summer upon us, it is time to join together in a call for justice.

http://www.nfwm.org/content/nfwm-and-ufw-honor-15-fallen-farm-workers-prayer-vigils

It is illegal in AZ to deny anyone water for any reason.

I could maybe see implementing additional measures at 95 degrees, but 85 degrees is nothing more than a warm spring day.

What you are doing.

Standing around in 85 degrees and 15% humidity under full shade is one thing, doing hard physical labor at 85 degrees and 95% humidity in the full sun is *entirely* another thing.

Try being under a welding hood and protective gear all day at 85 degrees in full sun and high humidity, you'll feel like a not very well wrung out dishrag after eight hours of that.