05/17/06 The new heat stress rule

Washington Ag May 17, 2006 Temperatures are heating up this week and employers, including those in agriculture, need to be aware of a new emergency rule on heat stress adopted recently by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Intense discussions on the need for an outdoor heat-stress rule began last year after an agriculture worker died from heat stroke. L&I's Elaine Fischer says the emergency rule takes effect June 1st. Fisher: "That requires employers to evaluate their workplaces and determine if employees would be at risk from heat related illness during temperature extremes. If so, those workplaces have to have a safety plan in place to train the employees on how to recognize the symptoms of heat related illness." Fisher says L&I has had rules in place, they just weren't specific to hot weather. She says the agency has a tremendous amount of information on its website. Fisher: "That includes laminated cards, like quick reference cards they can pass out to the workers. We have videos you can check out. We have online training materials." That web site is www.lni.wa.gov Fisher says L&I has a partnership with the Washington State Farm Bureau so agricultural employers will be hearing about this from several places including L&I. I'm Bob Hoff.