b'SAFETYContinued from page 29and 80% on the third day.AnexceptiontoPlan Ahead and Be Preparedthis requirement exists iftheemployercan Provide training on heat illness to all workers. demonstratethattheHave an emergency plan.employee consistentlyWork Safely in Heatworked under the sameIndoor and outdoor workers are at risk or similar conditions asfor heat illness.the employers working conditionswithinthe prior fourteen days. Heat illness is preventableRestbreaksif needed.Thisisa significantchange from the NIOSH criteriaFor more information: documentregarding1-800-321-OSHA (6742)restbreaks.UnderTTY 1-877-889-5627 Drink cool waterTake rest breaks Find shade or a thenewstandard,www.osha.gov/heat cool areatheemployermust Federal law entitles workers to a safe workplace. Workers have allowandencouragethe right to speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation. employees to take paidSee www.osha.gov/workers for information about how to file a rest breaks, if needed,confidential complaint with OSHA and ask for an inspection.to prevent overheating.1-800-321-OSHA (6742) | TTY 1-877-889-5627 Wear light-colored,Check onSome equipment Interpretatingthewww.osha.gov/heat loose-fitting clothingeach other can increase your NIOSHCriteriaOSHA 3422-07R 2023 where possible heat exposureDocument,the employer had to makeFor employees working at a worksite alone, you will need to sure the employees all took the rest breaks scheduled formaintain two-way communications with the solo employee them. Under the new standard, it appears that employeesand make contact with the employee at least every two hours. will have more to say about if and when they feel they needAlso, before the shift starts if you have determined there is to take a rest break.a high heat trigger, you will have to notify your employees of Finally,you,theemployer,mustmaintaineffectivedrinking plenty of water, their right to, at their election, take communications with your employees in the field. You arerest breaks if needed, and remind them how to seek help required to regularly communicate with your employees.and the procedures to take in a heat emergency.Again, be sure you document what you are doing to complyIf you find the indoor worksite is under excessively high heat with the standard and to protect your employees. Also, youtemperatures (exceeding 120F) on a regular basis, you will must document those cases when you feel you can deviatebe required to post warning signs, which are legible, visible, from the protections required by the standard. Because weand understandable for employees entering the work areas.will now have a standard, you will no longer have all of the flexibility to comply as you did under the General DutyThere is a long list of steps to take for heat illness and Clause. emergency response/planning in the new standard. We will be doing a webinar on these requirements in the near future, Finally, we move on to situations where employees will beand we will get into much more detail on these requirements working in conditions above the high heat trigger. Whenat that time.the work environment moves into this area, you will have to implement some changes. First, you will be required toSimilarly, there is a long list of topics and materials to be provide all employees fifteen-minute rest breaks every twocovered in your formal training. Annual refresher training is hours. You may count a meal break as a rest break, butalso a requirement. Also, there is a list of topics you need you cannot count the time it takes them to don or doff theirto discuss as part of your supervisor training. For those equipment as a rest break. who know me, you know that my first focus is protection of employees and secondarily to that is my concern about When working with a high heat trigger, you must observe yourOSHA compliance and avoiding OSHA citations and fines. employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness. This willSo, while I am and will be discussing OSHA compliance, I include a mandatory buddy system where workers observewill also remind you of areas and topics that are important, each other, or observation by a supervisor or heat safetyeven though not a part of the standard. coordinator with no more than twenty employees to observe. 30 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'