A coalition of employer groups led by the California Chamber of Commerce recently detailed its objections to a draft regulation to prevent heat illness in indoor workplaces.
Coalition members represent employers large and small across many diverse industries. Many members were involved with the development and implementation of the outdoor heat illness regulation, and have significant experience with how to effectively prevent heat illness.
Although legislation enacted in 2016 (SB 1167; Mendoza; D-Artesia; Chapter 839) mandates the indoor heat illness rule be developed, the coalition recommends that data be provided so the regulation can reflect where and in what manner the exposure exists.
The draft proposal creates a program to prevent heat illness for indoor employees that is unnecessarily burdensome, expensive, and overly complex and confusing, the coalition points out in its April 4 letter to state officials in the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), Department of Industrial Relations.
Very few small and medium businesses will be able to comply with this complex proposal without being forced to seek the assistance of an expert consultant, which will be a substantial burden for businesses. The proposal also is unnecessarily prescriptive, going much further than the outdoor heat illness prevention regulation.
For more information, visit CalChamber’s Top Story.
Readers interested in joining the coalition working to change the indoor heat illness regulation, please contact Marti Fisher, CalChamber policy advocate, marti.fisher@calchamber.com.
