b'SAFETYOSHA HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION STANDARDby: Gary W. Auman of Auman, Mahan & FurryO SHA is ahead of schedule, for astandard also defines heat index as combining the ambient change. While acting Secretary oftemperature and humidity. As I have already stated, the Labor Su stated about forty-fivestandard for the construction industry is the same as the days ago that OSHA would be issuing astandard for general industry.proposed rule for heat illness prevention in October 2024, OSHA released the newAll employers with more than ten (10) employees are standard on July 2, 2024. The indicationrequired to have a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan is that this proposed rule will become a final rule and that(HIIPP) in writing. 29 CFR 1919.148 requires that the plan it will be enforceable sixty days after it is published inmust contain a comprehensive list of the types of work the Federal Register. That publication has not yet beencovered by the plan. For construction this includes all field made. As soon as the proposed rule is published, weemployees, unless they work in an air-conditioned office. will advise our members. As indicated, the standard willIn addition, the plan for an employer must include the heat become enforceable within sixty days of that publicationindex or the wet bulb temperature it will monitor to comply date however, that time may be extended if challenges towith the standard.the new standard are filed. Inadditiontothepreceding,allemployerswillhave The new proposed standard will be numbered 1910.148.to designate one or more heat safety coordinators to While this is a general industry standard, it will also impactimplement and monitor the HIIPP. These individuals will the construction industry as stated in proposed standardhave to be documented in any HIIPP. They must have the 1926.67. Standard 1926.67 states that the requirementsauthority to ensure compliance with all aspects of the HIIPP. for heat illness prevention applicable to construction underIn addition to the preceding, the employer must seek that section are identical to the requirements of 29 CFRthe input and involvement of non-managerial employees 1910.148. The proposed rule appears to follow the fiveand their representatives, if any, in the development and steps in the NIOSH Criteria Document.implementation of the HIIPP. Both of these requirements The Proposed Rule (PR) addresses two trigger points.have not appeared before now in the enforcement of heat An initial heat trigger is identified as a heat index of 80Fillness protections under the General Duty Clause. You while a high heat trigger means a heat index of 90F. Themust make the HIIPP readily available at the work site to Continued on page 2928 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'