b'Garys CornerHEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION PART TWOGary Auman, MRCA Legal CounselW e are well into the summerThis year, in 2022, OSHA has taken two big high heat season. It appearssteps directed at heat illness prevention. The first that, in many parts of the Unitedstep was to announce that OSHA will be proposing States,temperaturesareagaina new specific standard in both general industry and settingrecordhighsandforconstruction to set specific standards for employers longerdurations.Lastyear,inin both of those industrial sectors. It is too early in 2021,remindedeveryoneabouttheunusuallythe rule making process to predict how OSHA will high temperatures in the Pacific Northwest andactually move on these standards. But the second the high number of fatalities associated with thoseaction by OSHA is well underway, and that is to high temperatures. As we learned last year, highdeclare a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for temperatures are not limited to just one area ofheat illness prevention. In doing this, OSHA has the country. So, what does this mean for you ascreated probable cause to conduct inspections in an employer? Whether you are in construction orhigh hazard industries for heat illness. Just about general industry, unusually high temperatures willevery type of construction is on that list and OSHA impact you, unless you operate an air-conditionedwillprovideguidelinesforcomplianceofficers manufacturing, or warehouse, facility. My goal forconducting the NEP inspections. Remember that, all of my trade association clients is to keep oureven though we now have a heat illness prevention members apprised about significant hazards thatNEP, OSHA can still conduct compliance inspections may confront their employees, and to remind themin the case of an OSHA reportable illness, injury, of their obligations to those employees. Everyor employee complaint. employer should have as its number one goal, the safety of its workforce. 36 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'