Salem: Oregon adopts emergency rules Thursday that strengthens the requirements for entrepreneurs to protect extreme heat workers, including expanding access to shade and cold water in the advocate of what is called the most protective heat rule at the Pacific Northwest.
“With this new rule, Oregon has the opportunity to lead the country in ensuring a safe workplace from high heat, especially for those who do the most demanding and dangerous work such as agriculture and construction,” said Kate Suisman, a lawyer with a northwestern worker ‘project justice.
The emergency rules adopted by the Ogon Ogon Safety and Health and Health Division, or Oregon Osha, also mandated regular cooldown breaks and communication between employees and supervisors so that workers can report concerns.
Among the more than 100 people in Oregon who died during the extreme heatwave at the end of June was an immigrant from Guatemala who worked outside, said the state medical examiner.
He is part of the crew in plant nurseries moving irrigation lines.
Oregon Osha is investigating nurseries and labor contractors.
“Oregon Osha takes important steps in leading the nation with standards for outdoor workers,” said Reyna Lopez, executive director of the Oregon Livestock Union, known as Spanish acronym as PCUN.
“It is very important that we continue to take steps towards the shift in long-term policies in our country, which takes climate change, and serious safety of workers.” Oregon Osha said the rules would immediately be effective and remain in place for 180 days.
“In the face of an unprecedented heat wave at Pacific Northwest, and tragic consequences, it is very important that we continue to build our defenses to the effects of climate change, including extreme heat events,” said Andrew Stolfi, director of the state agency that includes Oregon Osha.
Heatwave is caused by what is described by a meteorological expert as a high pressure dome on the northwest and British Columbia which is exacerbated by climate change caused by humans, which makes extreme weather events as more likely and more intense.
Seattle, Portland, and many other cities broke the hot record of all time, with temperatures in several places reaching above 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius).
Oregon has recorded 116 deaths from heat waves, while the Washington state said on Thursday that the number has increased to 78.
Authorities say hundreds of deaths may eventually be associated with heat throughout the region.
In the midst of historical drought, the temperature surged in the western part of the US again this week but was less intense than the previous heat wave.
Under the new Oregon rules for workers, when the hot index is at or above 80 F (27 C), the employer is required to provide sufficient shade access and adequate drinking water supply.
When the hot index rises above 90 F (32 C), the employer must also ensure effective communication between workers and supervisors so that workers can report concerns, ensure that employees are observed for vigilance and signs of cooling disease, and provide a period of cold break below Shade 10 minutes for every two working hours.