July 27, 2023
If your job requires you to work outside in this heat, the president has just stepped in.
He ordered the Labor Department to issue a hazard alert because of these scorching temperatures that are breaking records across the country.
So what does that mean?
Well, according to federal law, your employer has an obligation to protect you from heat illness or injury at your workplace – regardless if you work outdoors or indoors.
At a minimum your employer should provide adequate cool water, rest breaks or a cool rest area for you. Give new or returning employees the chance to gradually acclimate to working in these hot temperatures, plan for emergencies, train workers on prevention and the must monitor workers for signs of illness.
OSHA will be intensifying its inspections in high-risk industries like construction and agriculture but also firefighters and police officers.
If you want to know your rights or your responsibilities as a business owner, I will email all the paperwork out to you tonight in my news girl news roundup email. Make sure you sign yourself up.
Read your rights from OSHA on the hazard alert here.
Read more about employer obligations from OSHA here.
Read more from the President about the heat hazard alert
