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Our colleagues at the Finishing Contractors Association (FCA) are seeking feedback from contractors on what impact you believe (if any) this rule will have on your operations. Click here to provide your feedback. OSHA's proposed heat stress rule includes mandatory heat illness prevention plans and underscores the importance of gradual acclimatization for new and returning workers to high-temperature conditions. For outdoor work, the rule introduces specific precautions starting at 80°F, such as mandatory rest breaks, access to shade and sufficient hydration. For indoor work environments, OSHA is considering the use of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) as a metric to assess heat hazards. The “Rule of 20 Percent” within the proposed rule recommends acclimatizing new workers to heat by gradually increasing exposure: starting with 20% of the usual duration of work in heat on the first day (1.5 hours out of an 8-hour shift), followed by a 20% increase each subsequent day. The rule also proposes categorizing work into four levels of physical demand, which are: light (activities like sitting, standing, light arm/hand work, occasional walking), moderate (tasks involving normal walking, moderate lifting and pushing or pulling), heavy (intense arm and trunk work, carrying heavy materials, shoveling), and very heavy (very intense activity at fast to maximum pace, lifting more than 50 pounds regularly). Your response is requested by December 1. Thank you.
Our colleagues at the Finishing Contractors Association (FCA) are seeking feedback from contractors on what impact you believe (if any) this rule will have on your operations.
Click here to provide your feedback. OSHA's proposed heat stress rule includes mandatory heat illness prevention plans and underscores the importance of gradual acclimatization for new and returning workers to high-temperature conditions. For outdoor work, the rule introduces specific precautions starting at 80°F, such as mandatory rest breaks, access to shade and sufficient hydration. For indoor work environments, OSHA is considering the use of wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) as a metric to assess heat hazards. The “Rule of 20 Percent” within the proposed rule recommends acclimatizing new workers to heat by gradually increasing exposure: starting with 20% of the usual duration of work in heat on the first day (1.5 hours out of an 8-hour shift), followed by a 20% increase each subsequent day. The rule also proposes categorizing work into four levels of physical demand, which are: light (activities like sitting, standing, light arm/hand work, occasional walking), moderate (tasks involving normal walking, moderate lifting and pushing or pulling), heavy (intense arm and trunk work, carrying heavy materials, shoveling), and very heavy (very intense activity at fast to maximum pace, lifting more than 50 pounds regularly). Your response is requested by December 1. Thank you.