FIRST WASHINGTON HEAT WAVE OF 2024 TRIGGERS HEAT RULES TO PROTECT OUTDOOR WORKERS
TUMWATER — Many in Washington are welcoming this week’s break from rainy, cool weather. But for outdoor workers and their employers, the quickly rising temperatures will trigger protections designed to prevent heat-related illness in agriculture, landscaping, construction, and other outdoor jobs.
Vea abajo para esta información en español.
The rules, overseen by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), require frequent breaks, access to shade, and water cool enough to drink, among other things.
The state heat rules include protections for outdoor workers that kick in at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with additional requirements when there is high heat. The forecasted temperatures above 90 degrees in Eastern Washington mean many with outdoor jobs will be working with those requirements in place this weekend.
The rules also require close observation of all workers anywhere temperatures are 80 degrees or higher and 10 or more degrees above the average temperatures for the last 5 days, a threshold that many places around the state will meet in coming days.
At or above 80 degrees, employers must:
- Encourage and allow workers to take paid preventative cool-down rest periods as needed;
- Provide enough shade or other way of cooling down—like an air-conditioned building or running vehicle—for all employees on a meal or rest break to use;
- Provide enough cool drinking water for each employee to drink a quart per hour; and
- Closely observe new employees, employees returning from absences, and all employees during heat waves.
At or above 90 degrees, employers must require a 10-minute paid cool down rest period every two hours. When the temperature reaches 100 degrees or higher, the requirement for breaks becomes 15-minutes of paid cool down rest every hour.
L&I updated its heat protection rules last year, lowering the trigger temperature from 89 to 80 degrees and making them effective year round based on temperature, rather than only during certain months of the year. For many places in Washington, this heat wave would not have activated protections under the older rules.
Learn more at Lni.wa.gov/HeatSmart.
Recognizing symptoms of heat stress Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can come on quickly and be serious or fatal. Employers and workers should recognize these symptoms and respond appropriately:
Heat exhaustion:
- Heavy sweating;
- A fast, weak pulse;
- Cold, pale, and clammy skin;
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting;
- Weakness and/or cramps.
Workers experiencing these symptoms should move into the shade, drink water, and take cool-down rests as needed. Employers who see the symptoms in their workers must take action, provide aid, and continue to monitor symptoms.
Heat stroke:
Heat stroke is more serious and must be treated as a medical emergency that requires professional medical treatment:
- Skin that is hot, red, and dry, with no sweat;
- A body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher;
- A fast, strong pulse; nausea; and/or loss of consciousness.
Be proactive by protecting workers’ health and safety during the extreme heat of the summer.
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10 de mayo de 2024 #24-07
CON LA PRIMERA OLA DE CALOR EN WASHINGTON DE 2024, SE ACTIVAN LAS REGLAS PARA PROTEGER A LOS TRABAJADORES AL AIRE LIBRE DEL CALOR
TUMWATER — Muchas personas en Washington recibirán con gusto un descanso del clima lluvioso y frio de esta semana. Pero para los trabajadores al aire libre y sus empleadores, el aumento rápido de las temperaturas activará las protecciones designadas para evitar las enfermedades relacionadas con el calor en la agricultura, jardinería, construcción y otros trabajos al aire libre.
El Departamento de Labor e Industrias del Estado de Washington (L&I) administra las reglas que requieren los descansos frecuentes, acceso a zonas de sombra y agua lo suficientemente fría para beber, entre otras medidas.
Las reglas estatales sobre el calor incluyen protecciones para los trabajadores al aire libre que inician a los 80° grados Fahrenheit (26.7° centígrados), con requisitos adicionales cuando hay altas temperaturas. Las temperaturas pronosticadas superiores a los 90° grados Fahrenheit (32° centígrados) en el este de Washington significan que muchos de los que tienen trabajos al aire libre trabajarán bajo estos requisitos durante este fin de semana.
Las reglas también requieren que se observe cuidadosamente a todos los trabajadores en cualquier lugar donde las temperaturas lleguen a 80 grados o mayor, y 10 grados o más que el promedio de las temperaturas durante los últimos cinco días. Muchas áreas alrededor del estado alcanzarán este umbral en los próximos días.
A 80°grados Fahrenheit (26.7 centígrados) o más, los empleadores deberán:
- Alentar y permitir que los trabajadores tomen periodos de descanso pagados para refrescarse como sean necesarios;
- Proveer zonas de sombra suficiente u otra manera de refrescarse, como una estructura con aire acondicionado o un vehículo en funcionamiento, para que todos los empleados los puedan usar en sus descansos y comidas;
- Proveer suficiente agua fría para beber para que cada empleado pueda beber un cuarto por hora; y
- Monitorear cuidadosamente a los empleados nuevos, a los empleados que regresen de sus ausencias y a todos los empleados durante una ola de calor.
A 90° grados Fahrenheit (32° centígrados) o más, los empleadores deben proveer un periodo de descanso de 10 minutos cada dos horas para refrescarse. Cuando las temperaturas alcancen los 100° grados Fahrenheit (37.8° centígrados) o más, es obligatorio que los periodos de descanso para refrescarse sean de 15 minutos cada hora.
L&I actualizó las reglas de protección contra el calor el año pasado, rebajado la temperatura de activación de 89 a 80 grados y haciéndolas aplicables para todo el año basado en la temperatura, en lugar de solamente durante ciertos meses del año.
Bajo las reglas anteriores, esta ola de calor no hubiese activado las protecciones para muchas zonas en Washington.
Aprenda más en Lni.wa.gov/Calor.
Reconociendo los síntomas del estrés por calor
El agotamiento por el calor y la insolación pueden ocurrir rápidamente y ser graves o mortales. Los empleadores y trabajadores deben reconocer estos síntomas y responder apropiadamente:
Agotamiento por el calor:
- Sudoración abundante
- Pulso débil y rápido
- Piel fría, húmeda y pálida
- Dolores de cabeza, mareos, náusea o vómito
- Debilidad o calambres
Los trabajadores que experimentan estos síntomas deben moverse a una zona de sombra, tomar agua y tomar descansos para refrescarse como sean necesarios. Los empleadores que vean estos síntomas en sus trabajadores deben tomar acción, proveer ayuda y continuar monitoreando los síntomas.
Insolación:
La insolación es algo más serio y debe tratarse como una emergencia médica que requiere atención medica profesional:
- Piel que está caliente, roja y seca, sin sudor;
- Una temperatura corporal de 104° grados Fahrenheit (40°centígrados) o más;
- Un pulso fuerte y rápido; náusea o pérdida del conocimiento.
Sea proactivo al proteger la salud y seguridad de los trabajadores durante el calor extremo del verano.
###
For media information:
L&I Newsroom (https://lni.wa.gov/news-events).
Connect with L&I: Facebook (facebook.com/laborandindustries) and X (X.com/lniwa).
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