Employers in the timber industry should take note of two new safety rules that take effect on 15 June 2022. These rules, which are intended to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and wildfire smoke, are mandatory for employers of outdoor workers and may impact harvests and other forestry activities this summer. Both rules mirror requirements that were initially implemented last year but contain new and potentially significant updates.
Both rules carry potentially stiff penalties if they are not followed. For example, employers who violate the rules can receive citations and related fines. Employers could also face litigation, and a violation of these rules could expand potential liability (for example, by escaping the workers compensation bar or providing evidence of fault in subsequent litigation). Violations of break requirements could also result in wage claims based on failure to pay employees for the missed breaks.
With this in mind, forestry employers would do well to familiarize themselves with these two rules and ensure that they are followed in the field.
In 2021, the Washington Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) issued an emergency rule establishing preventative measures employers must take to minimize the risk of heat-related illnesses in high-heat environments. The 2021 rule required employers to provide suitably cool drinking water and...
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