Washington, DC – On Wednesday, June 25th, the American Building Materials Alliance (ABMAU) said before the Vocational Security and Health Administration (OSHA) in relation to the proposed rule for heat injuries and diseases. ABMAU represented the wood and building materials industry (LBM) and asked the Osha to recognize the effectiveness of existing heat safety plans that are already available throughout the industry. Francis Palasisißski, ABMA's director of government matters, made oral statements on behalf of the organization and its members:
“Osha is about to throw every proven heating security plan that our industry is already using and replace it with a rigid, uniform rule for all size. Here is: Our industry already has a strong track record for heat security,” said Palaseski in a LinkedIn post. “We have spoken to insurers and risk groups that represent hundreds of LBM locations. The result? No claim reported in the past four years. The proposed rule would invalidate every single plan that we have already existed, and replace it with an unproven, prescribed approach to compliance checklists more than on real security.”
On August 30, 2024, Osha published a message about the proposed regulations (NPRM) for heat injuries and prevention prevention in the work environments outdoors and indoors. This is a considerable step towards a federal theater standard for the protection of employees. The proposed standard would apply to all employers who work outdoors in all general industry, construction, sea and agricultural sectors in which the OSHA is responsible. The standard would create an employer a plan to rate and control thermal goals at their workplace. This would illustrate the employer's obligations and the necessary steps to effectively protect employees from dangerous heat. The ultimate goal is to prevent and reduce the number of professional injuries, diseases and deaths caused by exposure to dangerous warmth.
The American Building Materials Alliance published an overview of its statements, some of which are included:
- According to Abma's insurer for the northeast, which covers hundreds of locations, there were
In the past four years in the insured group, no heat -related injury claims in the insured group. This indicates that the current security
The measures are effective to alleviate heat -related risks. - The proposed rule is overly prescribing and requires specific measures that do not take into account the effectiveness
the existing heat security plans. Many companies have already implemented proven protocols that are tailored to theirs
Operations. - The compliance costs, especially for small and medium-sized companies, could be significant. Requirements
Like technical controls, acclimatization protocols and extensive records, companies can force companies to do so
lead resources from other essential security and operational priorities. - The proposed rule takes into account the effects of regional climate fluctuations or the type of
Work carried out. Different types of warmth – like dry compared to moist conditions – affect people
Different and require tailor -made approaches for heat management. In addition, tasks with lower physical
The effort is a much low risk of heat -related diseases compared to physically demanding activities.
ABMAM emphasized that the proposed rule that extends over 600 pages could impose small and medium-sized companies on considerable operating and compliance loads, even those with excellent safety records.
“Our core message to Osha is effective plans with proven security documents, even if the rule is accepted,” said PalasiSki during the meeting. “We hope so [OSHA] Would take some of the things into account that we looked at, like the number of incidents that we were in several places in all cases than zero. We do not have the feeling that the prevention of heat disease should be as rigid as the plan says. There should be a certain flexibility, and the Osha should be able to approve it on the basis of effectiveness from case to case. ”
ABMA has undertaken to submit follow-up materials, including the real examples of heat security plans from member companies, and will be actively involved during the entire process process.