04/29/08 Heat stress rule hearings

Washington Ag April 29, 2009 The Department of Labor and Industries proposed new workplace rule to protect workers from heat-stress related illness when working outdoors is the subject of public hearings around the state this week. Dan Fazio of the Washington State Farm Bureau says there is already a rule for agriculture that is practical and the new rule would confuse the situation. He expects lots of challenges to L&I's proposed rule. Fazio: "We don't have the rampant problems that they have in California and some of the southwestern states with heat related illness. It is not that hot here. People are in orchards. They are not working in the hottest part of the day. So there were really no statistics that L&I could cite to that a rule was required or there was some problem that were trying to solve that wasn't solved by the very practical rule we have in agriculture right now." L&I says there have been four heat stroke deaths in the state in the last ten years and hundreds more who sought medical treatment. There will be a hearing in Bellingham April 29th at 1 p.m. at the Quality Inn Baron Suites. On April 30th in Yakima at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center at 9 a.m. In Richland April 30th at 2 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel-Hanford House and in Spokane May 1st at 1 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park. I'm Bob Hoff.