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EDITOR’S COMMENTARY B Be P r r e e e v ve a at t i i n ng gt th he eH H e ea at P t en n t t i in ng g h h e ea a t t- -r r e e l l a a t t e ed di il ll l n ne es s s s i i s sg ge e t t t t i i n n g gm mo or As we approach the summer, employers, safety stakeholders and government agencies continue to focus their attention on protecting workers from heat stress and the hazards of working in high-temperature, both indoors and out. The latest comes from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, which proposed in late March to update the Evergreen State’s permanent heat rules to increase protections for agricultural, construction and other workers exposed to dangerous outdoor temperatures on the job. Under Washington’s current rules, employers must provide outdoor heat exposure safety programs with training, ensure each worker has ready access to at least one quart of suitable drinking water per hour and provide an appropriate response to workers experiencing heat-related illness symptoms. The proposed changes focus on prevention by updating the existing temperature action levels to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for most outdoor work, applying to specific portions of the rule such as drinking water and shade; specifying when and how much shade must be provided; and requiring access to cool-down periods to prevent overheating. Washington isn’t alone. Other states have recently been developing protections for working in the heat. In October 2022, the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) published a draft heat stress standard. However, safety professionals felt the draft didn’t go far enough. In November, a letter signed by 38 organizations and 35 individuals representing the Maryland Heat Illness Prevention Coalition said the standard wouldn’t protect workers and called on MOSH to withdraw and redevelop the standard. In July 2022, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) introduced a State Emphasis Program for indoor and outdoor heat-related hazards. The program lets MIOSHA perform comprehensive inspection targeting and outreach, which can include compliance assistance to educate companies on steps they can take to prevent dangerous health situations in work environments with a higher risk of heat illness. Of course, this state-level activity follows the federal OSHA’s April 2022 introduction of its National Emphasis Program on heat hazards. It’s encouraging to see this activity taking place. As we learned in OH&S’s March 23 webinar from W. Jon Williams, Ph.D., Senior Research Physiologist in the Research Branch of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)/NIOSH/CDC, the physiology behind heat stress is frightening. And we’ll have another heat stress webinar coming up on June 22 from Stephen Badger, CSP, OHST, WCP, Safety Management Consultant with The MEMIC Group. Keep following us at ohsonline.com, via our e-newsletter and on social media, to stay on top of this important topic. r e ea at tt te en nt t i i o o n n. . W Wh h y y? ? DAVID KOPF Executive Editor, OH&S Magazine ID STATEMENT Occupational Health & Safety (ISSN 0362-4064) is published 7 times a year, Feb/Mar, Apr/May, June, Jul/ Aug, September, October and Nov/Dec by 1105 Media, Inc., 6300 Canoga Avenue, Suite 1150, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Periodicals postage paid at Woodland Hills, CA 91367, and at additional mailing offices. Complimentary subscriptions are sent to qualifying subscribers. 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