05/28/08 Heat Stress Rule

Heat Stress Rule. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Labor & Industries is currently working on a new heat stress ruling that some ag industry people are calling redundant. According to Elaine Fischer, L&I Communications, the new proposal is aimed at helping ag workers. FISCHER: Would require employers to have a safety program in place. To include heat related illness as part of their safety program. And to train their employees on recognizing the signs and symptoms and risk factors. In addition to having the safety program in place Fischer says employers need to check local weather conditions. FISCHER: Be alert if the temperatures were going to reach a certain level and on those days that the temperature reached a certain level that triggered the requirements they would need to provide extra water and remind employees to drink lots of water and be aware if you feel these symptoms you should let your supervisor know. L&I has had the proposal open for comment and has received considerable feedback. L&I hopes to put a revised version of the rule into effect soon. FISCHER: We held six public hearings and we've received hundreds of comments and we're evaluating all those comments and looking at what needs to be taken into consideration. No final decisions have been made but we're pleased that so many people turned out. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.