{"id":6074,"date":"2022-05-13T08:28:07","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T12:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oshadefensereport.com\/?p=6074"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T17:19:10","slug":"osha-conducts-comprehensive-heat-illness-prevention-stakeholder-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.connmaciel.com\/osha-defense-report\/osha-conducts-comprehensive-heat-illness-prevention-stakeholder-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"OSHA Conducts Comprehensive Heat Illness Prevention Stakeholder Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Beeta B. Lashkari<\/a> and Eric J. Conn<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, OSHA held a virtual stakeholder meeting to discuss and receive public input about OSHA\u2019s various initiatives designed to protect workers from heat-related hazards.\u00a0 Below is a summary of the stakeholder meeting, as well as the comments we presented on behalf of our Employers Heat Illness Prevention Coalition.\u00a0 \"Capture<\/a>If you would like to view the entire meeting<\/a>, or view the agenda or some of the heat illness-related materials OSHA made available, they are available on OSHA\u2019s Heat Forum Public Stakeholder Meeting<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

The meeting ran for approx. 6 hours (from noon to 6 PM).\u00a0 More than 3,000 stakeholders signed up for the meeting, and more than 500 people requested to speak, including OSHA representatives, an OSHA leadership panel, and four batches of public comment.\u00a0 Public commenters were each allotted a strictly enforced 3-minute window to speak.<\/p>\n

Opening Remarks from Heads of DOL\/OSHA<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Doug Parker, kicked off the meeting with opening remarks.\u00a0 Mr. Parker began by explaining that heat-related hazards do not just affect workers who work outdoors.\u00a0 They affect workers year-round in indoor environments, too.\u00a0 Mr. Parker mentioned that, while 80% of heat-related fatalities<\/em> happen in outdoor environments, more than 60% of heat-related illness<\/em> occurs in indoor work environments, and since 2018, OSHA has conducted reactive heat illness inspections in more than 230 different industries, in both indoor and outdoor settings.\u00a0 Mr. Parker went on to emphasize how workers of color are disproportionality affected by heat hazards because they are more likely to work in jobs where they are exposed to high levels of heat and often job tasks that involve exertion levels that increase body temperature.\u00a0 Mr. Parker also expressed that the dangers of extreme heat are getting progressively worse, due to the impact of climate change.\u00a0 He said that OSHA is committed to a workable solution that includes a range of approaches to address this issue<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 Mr. Parker stated that indoor setting can control for temperature and humidity, and in both indoor and outdoor settings, we can control exertion levels, and ensure water, rest, and shade.<\/p>\n

Deputy Assistant Secretary Jim Frederick spoke next.\u00a0 Mr. Frederick provided an overview of the topics the OSHA speakers would address, including a heat illness prevention campaign, compliance assistance activities, OSHA\u2019s enforcement efforts, including the new Heat Illness National Emphasis Program, and the rulemaking underway for a Heat Illness Standard, and ways for the public to engage in that process.\u00a0 Mr. Frederick also explained that additional written comments following this stakeholder meeting can be submitted to the Rulemaking Docket through August 1, 2022<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Secretary of Labor Walsh spoke after Mr. Frederick.\u00a0 Mr. Walsh spoke about how President Biden has prioritized worker safety, health and welfare, through such efforts to address safety from COVID-19 and infectious diseases, accidents and injuries, mental\/physical health, and ensuring DOL and OSHA have the resources to take on the initiative.\u00a0 Mr. Walsh also spoke about his background as a construction worker, and how it impacted his commitment to take on heat-related hazards very seriously.\u00a0 In describing heat hazards, Mr. Walsh stated that the dangers posed by heat have gone on too long and are only getting worse as climate change becomes a climate crisis; that 18 of the last 19 summers have been the hottest summers on record; and that it is past time to provide the protections workers deserve.\u00a0 Mr. Walsh explained that while OSHA initiated a rulemaking for heat hazards, that process can take some time, but OSHA is acting now by launching a National Emphasis Program.\u00a0 He also spoke about how he has gone across the country, speaking to farmer, warehouse, and construction worker advocacy groups about this issue.<\/p>\n

OSHA Panel and Public Commenters<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The OSHA panel started with Pamela Barclay (Health Scientist) and Inanje Mintz (Health Educator), both out of OSHA\u2019s Directorate of Standards and Guidance, who provided an overview of OSHA\u2019s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign<\/em>.\u00a0 Many of the updates shared during the stakeholder meeting were the same as those shared during the NACOSH Meeting on February 22, 2022.\u00a0 For example, OSHA has been hard at work updating and creating new heat illness prevention guidance materials.\u00a0 \"Capture<\/a>It has a new Work Poster<\/a>; Pamphlet<\/a>; Infographics<\/a>; Audio PSA<\/a>; Video PSA<\/a>; and OSHA Alert<\/a>.\u00a0 Most of these materials are available in multiple languages.<\/p>\n

OSHA also shared plans for the 2022 heat season, which have been started, including:<\/p>\n