California’s indoor heat protections have gone into effect and apply to most indoor workplaces.
We’ve gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other outlets.
New Standard’s Requirements
When the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit in indoor workplaces in California, employers must take steps to protect workers from heat illness. Some of the requirements include providing water, rest, cool-down areas, and training.
Additional requirements, where feasible, apply when the temperature reaches 87 degrees, such as cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules, and providing personal heat-protective equipment. When workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high-radiant-heat areas, those additional requirements apply at 82 degrees.
(California Department of Industrial Relations news release)
Labor Leaders Welcome Standards
“We are relieved that the indoor heat protections are now finally in effect in California,” said Lorena Gonzalez, head of the California Labor Federation, in a statement. “This long-overdue victory for workers cannot be overstated; these protections from extreme heat will save countless lives.”
The state estimates that the new rule will apply to about 1.4 million people who work indoors in conditions that can easily lead to extreme heat exposure. The industries anticipated to be most affected include warehouses, manufacturing, and restaurants.
California in 2006 became the first state to establish permanent heat...
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