05/29/07 Lawmakers hot over heat stress rule

Washington Ag May 29, 2007 A proposed emergency rule by the state Department of Labor and Industries that would impose heat stress requirements upon employers starting June 5th is being criticized by two eastern Washington Republican Senators. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville and Jim Clements Selah say the proposal is too burdensome on businesses including agriculture. Under L&I's proposed heat stress rule, affected employers will be required to provide heat stress training, have a written heat stress policy and provide workers with shade, cooling areas and one quart of drinking water per employee per hour. Senator Schoesler says the proposed heat stress rule lacks common sense. Schoesler: "I think most employees know where to find a water jug or where water is at the job site but we are going to have rules to tell them how they should and why they should." Elaine Fisher with L&I says the emergency rule is no different than a temporary rule that was in force last year and that interested parties knew the department would be looking at a permanent heat stress rule. She acknowledges that statistically heat stress claims are extremely low but points out that many workers may not make a claim because they didn't recognize heat stress symptoms. Thus the need for training. And Fisher says there have been four heat stress work related deaths in the past ten years, one of those occurring last year. I'm Bob Hoff.