Prevalent in the closing months of the year are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) complaints involving heat exposure, which, with the coming end of warm weather across most of the U.S., will see a significant decrease until they resurface next year. What may come as a surprise, though, is that these heat exposure claims are not limited to outdoor laborers alone. Indoor employees are also included in this spectrum, despite the common misconception.
While OSHA is reported to be stepping up efforts towards the formulation of an all-inclusive heat stress safety standard, the absence of a federal mandate hasn’t hindered various state programs from establishing their regulations that govern employee exposure to hot conditions. Already, several states’ laws are either already adopted or in the process of adoption. The main rationale behind such unilaterally implemented moves is ensuring effective steps are taken to curb heat stress incidents, pending the enactment of an all-encompassing federal mandate.
This trend could be a wake-up call for businesses, urging them to reconsider their own internal safety measures. It will likewise necessitate the need for employers, both indoors and outdoors, to guarantee the safety of their workers during warm weather periods alongside maintaining a watchful eye on the introduction of such measures by their respective state laws and OSHA, thus keeping their legal compliance intact. Time will tell as to how the corporate sphere adjusts itself to bolster the well-being of its summer workforce.
For a deeper look into the matter, visit the original article written by Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP here.