One-Size Does Not Fit All When it Comes to Heat Safety

What’s happening: Protections for workers laboring in hot environments, including acclimation, hydration, and rest are essential for worker safety, but overly prescriptive regulations that fail to consider different climates and conditions specific to transportation construction jobsites could cause unintended safety risks and project delays. That was ARTBA’s message to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Jan. 14 in response to newly proposed Heat Illness and Injury standards.

Why it matters: Heat safety for workers is an important concern, which the transportation construction industry has effectively addressed for many years, as evidenced by the low numbers of injuries and fatalities reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. ARTBA requested OSHA provide industry-specific data demonstrating a need for transportation construction to be regulated, heat triggers that are geographically tailored, mandates that can be feasibly administered in a construction environment, and greater clarity on matters related to acclimatization, indoor vs. outdoor work, and specificity of heat safety plans.

ARTBA, in partnership with the National Asphalt Pavement Association created a model heat program to assist employers with their worker safety initiatives.

What’s next: OSHA is now required to review and address all public comments. Given the volume of comments received, the agency will likely hold public hearings before finalizing the regulation. Moving the process forward is a decision that will fall to the incoming Trump administration, which takes office next week, making the rule’s outlook uncertain. For more details, contact ARTBA’s Brad Sant or Prianka Sharma.