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Restaurant kitchens can get extremely hot, especially in the summer. According to the Department of Labor, heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.
The department has proposed a new rule to limit the risks of heat in the workplace.
“Workers all over the country are passing out, suffering heat stroke and dying from heat exposure from just doing their jobs, and something must be done to protect them,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “Today’s proposal is an important next step in the process to receive public input to craft a ‘win-win’ final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers.”
The proposed rule would require employers to develop an injury and illness prevention plan to control heat hazards in workplaces affected by excessive heat. Among other things, the plan would require employers to evaluate heat risks and — when heat increases risks to workers — implement requirements for drinking water, rest breaks and control of indoor heat. It would also require a plan to protect new or returning workers unaccustomed to working in high heat conditions.
Employers would also be required to provide training, have procedures to respond if a worker is experiencing signs and symptoms of a heat-related illness, and take immediate action to help a worker experiencing signs and symptoms of a heat emergency.
Tips for Helping Workers Stay Cool
This new rule was just proposed, but in 2022 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a campaign to prevent heat-related injuries. Employers should:
- Encourage workers to drink water every 15 minutes.
- Ensure workers take frequent rest breaks in the shade to cool down.
- Have an emergency plan ready to respond when a worker shows signs of heat-related illness.
- Train supervisors and workers on the hazards of heat exposure, how to recognize common signs and symptoms, and how to prevent illness.
- Allow workers to build a tolerance for working in heat.
The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool – available in English and Spanish – is a free app that calculates a worksite’s heat index and shows the associated risk levels. Users will see precautionary recommendations specific to heat index risk levels to help protect employees from heat-related illness.
OSHA’s Occupational Heat Exposure page explains the symptoms of heat illness, first aid measures to provide while waiting for help, engineering controls and work practices to reduce workers’ exposure to heat, and training.
Read a fact sheet on OSHA’s National Emphasis Program to protect workers across the nation from the increasing threat of heat related illness. Learn more about working in outdoor and indoor heat environments.
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