Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine September 2024

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2024

State National Chapter News

prevention plan" (HIIPP) and designate one or more heat safety coordinators to implement and monitor the HIIPP. Employers must seek the input of non managerial employees in developing and implementing the HIIPP, and the HIIPP must be reviewed at least once per year, as well as after the occurrence of certain heat-related injuries. The proposed rule expressly excludes firefighting organizations, employees who are exposed to the initial heat trigger for 15 minutes or less in any 60-minute period, and indoor work areas or vehicles where air-conditioning consistently keeps the ambient temperature below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. These regulations are not yet in effect. Once they are published in the Federal Register there will be a period for public comment before the proposed rule can be finalized and enforced. If finalized, OSHA projects the rule would affect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace, though critics are already expressing their concern about the increased cost to employers in implementing the proposed rule. Employers should begin contemplating whether and how their workforces may be affected by the proposed rule should it be finalized in the future. If you have questions, McAfee & Taft Labor and Employment Group attorneys are available to assist. 'Hot' take