Comments on: Lawsuit filed to force state to enact and enforce new heat stress rules http://www.safetynewsalert.com/lawsuit-filed-to-force-state-to-enact-and-enforce-new-heat-stress-rules/ Occupational safety and health news for workplace safety professionals. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:23:45 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: John http://www.safetynewsalert.com/lawsuit-filed-to-force-state-to-enact-and-enforce-new-heat-stress-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-6615 John Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:30:48 +0000 http://www.safetynewsalert.com/?p=3432#comment-6615 What do you expect from the ACLU? They're certainly not pro-business. What do you expect from the ACLU? They’re certainly not pro-business.

]]> By: Ria http://www.safetynewsalert.com/lawsuit-filed-to-force-state-to-enact-and-enforce-new-heat-stress-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-5729 Ria Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:13:21 +0000 http://www.safetynewsalert.com/?p=3432#comment-5729 Personally, I think allowing OSHA to handle heat stress under the General Duty Clause is enough. At the same time, I commend California and Washington for going a step above. What I see wrong with this scenario is that the United Farm Workers Union needs to take responsibility for its workers, rather than suing California to do so. The union collects union dues and is supposed to represent the best interests of its members. The union under its own set of responsibilities should know if unsafe conditions exist for its members and then report those conditions to the appropriate agency such as Cal-OSHA. This would make it easier for Cal-OSHA to best appropriate the resources it has. Everyone is struggling in this economy, and expecting Cal-OSHA to hire more staff is not feasible right now. Personally, I think allowing OSHA to handle heat stress under the General Duty Clause is enough. At the same time, I commend California and Washington for going a step above. What I see wrong with this scenario is that the United Farm Workers Union needs to take responsibility for its workers, rather than suing California to do so.

The union collects union dues and is supposed to represent the best interests of its members. The union under its own set of responsibilities should know if unsafe conditions exist for its members and then report those conditions to the appropriate agency such as Cal-OSHA. This would make it easier for Cal-OSHA to best appropriate the resources it has. Everyone is struggling in this economy, and expecting Cal-OSHA to hire more staff is not feasible right now.

]]> By: Mac Maclaren http://www.safetynewsalert.com/lawsuit-filed-to-force-state-to-enact-and-enforce-new-heat-stress-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-5720 Mac Maclaren Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:58:55 +0000 http://www.safetynewsalert.com/?p=3432#comment-5720 Somewhere, one would have to codify the 'enough' [water, shade, rest] but I vote for the General Duty Clause. We have workers who routinely work in >100 deg F conditions - welding, heavy steel fabrication, tall tower erection. We are very cognizant of the ambient conditions and assure that all three items, above, are provided. Sometimes that's difficult in the Middle East at our clients' facilities, but not too difficult here in Texas (where we are in the 45th straight day of >100 deg F weather). Somewhere, one would have to codify the ‘enough’ [water, shade, rest] but I vote for the General Duty Clause. We have workers who routinely work in >100 deg F conditions – welding, heavy steel fabrication, tall tower erection. We are very cognizant of the ambient conditions and assure that all three items, above, are provided. Sometimes that’s difficult in the Middle East at our clients’ facilities, but not too difficult here in Texas (where we are in the 45th straight day of >100 deg F weather).

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