On July 26, top OSHA officials鈥攊ncluding OSHA head Douglas Parker鈥攎et with 51风流 in conjunction with the association鈥檚 in Washington, D.C. George Palko, 51风流鈥檚 Highway and Transportation Division Chair, represented the group at this meeting. Robust conversations were held on the regulatory landscape facing construction contractors, including a future OSHA rulemaking on establishing a national heat standard. 51风流 contractors had the opportunity to impart real-world impacts of OSHA鈥檚 National Emphasis Program on Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, including the 80 degree trigger, reduced work days to allow acclimatization for new workers and those returning from vacation, and body temperature and heart rate monitoring.
The conference was especially timely as the U.S. House of Representative鈥檚 Education and Labor Committee on July 27 a legislative proposal to require OSHA to issue a national heat standard far earlier than OSHA has said is possible. The legislation, H.R.2193 (Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2021) ignores the significant progress that the industry has taken to address work-related heat exposure, not to mention the recent actions that OSHA has taken with its National Emphasis Program.
The accelerated timeline as proposed in H.R.2193 to finalize a complex and prescriptive standard also jeopardizes the effectiveness and opportunity for stakeholder involvement. The Construction Industry Safety Coalition, of which 51风流 is a leader, shared and more with lawmakers. 51风流 will continue to advocate for sensible workplace safety regulations. The legislation is not expected to become law, but rather pressure OSHA to rush establishing a national heat standard.