Heat and Smoke Protection Rules Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. A couple of new rules for protecting farm workers that both employers and employees should be aware of.
Washington Farm Bureau Safety Director, Dominique Damian says one is changes to the outdoor heat-exposure rules …
DAMIAN … “First of all, we’ve had an outdoor heat-exposure rule since 2008. So, the good is that employers should not be surprised by the rule itself. There was an update that is now in effect, as of July 17th, that added some extra protections for workers.”
Hopefully, Damian says that will help protect workers from heat-related illnesses and accidents. Big changes for hot weather, she says include shaded areas, water for hydration, and break periods …
DAMIAN … “Ensure that employees take a minimum of the mandatory cool-down rest periods. So, at 90 degrees it’s 10 minutes every two hours, and then at 100 degrees it’s 15 minutes every one hour.”
A new rule in the making, Damian says has been on their radar the past couple of years, wildfire smoke …
DAMIAN … “As it’s written right now, it’s still probably a little confusing for anybody that’s not just a safety and health professional, but definitely able to implement for employers, which means that that end-user, that employee is going to be better protected.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on new farm worker protections rules and where to learn more about them.
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Questions? Farm Bureau members can contact their Safety Directors at … https://wsfb.com/staff-directory .
Go to https://www.lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-topics/topics/wildfire-smoke for information on the wildfire smoke safety rule being worked on … OR go to
https://www.lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-rules/rulemaking-stakeholder-information/ambient-heat-exposure-rulemaking to find out more about the changes to the outdoor heat-exposure rules.
