New Proposed Rule to Protect Indoor and Outdoor Workers from Extreme Heat in Puerto Rico

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced last month that it released a proposed new rule with the goal of protecting workers across the country from health risks due to exposure to extreme heat. DOL claims that if finalized, the proposed rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace. This is significant as DOL asserts that heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.

Just two years ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it had launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect workers from heat illnesses and injuries. Through the program, OSHA conducted more than 5,000 federal heat-related inspections. It was the first time OSHA had launched a NEP to protect workers from heat.

The proposed rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control occupational heat hazards. Employers would also have to evaluate heat risks, implement requirements for drinking water when heat risks increase risks to workers, provide rest breaks, and control indoor heat. It also requires a plan to protect new or returning workers unaccustomed to working in high heat conditions. DOL also shares that employers would have to provide training and have procedures to respond if a worker is experiencing signs and symptoms of a heat-related illness.

“To assist employers in providing a safe work environment, Zimmetry offers industrial hygiene consulting, testing, monitoring, and training services to identify and mitigate exposure to thermal stressors and a wide range of other occupational hazards,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Our professionals can help to create an injury and illness prevention plan to minimize worker exposures to thermal stressors and temperature extremes. We also offer comprehensive occupational testing and monitoring services, heat stress related illness hazard communication training, and assess engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal heat-protective equipment to keep employers in Puerto Rico and across the region in compliance with health and safety standards.”

Zimmetry sponsored an educational video about heat stress and the work environment several years back that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/25NUviXBpTc

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, environmental, health, safety, compliance, and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005, or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental

Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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