American Gas - August/September 2011 - (Page 20)

safety security reliability safety first Beat the Heat OSHA has introduced a worker safety campaign aimed at protecting employees during the dog days of summer. s both seasonal temperatures and aggressive enforcement efforts by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) climb, employers must consider their duties in protecting employees against the hazards of heat. Heatrelated illness can temporarily diminish an employee’s mental capacity and physical coordination, and excessive heat can cause employees to lose focus or muscle control, resulting in injury to themselves or co-workers. The more hazardous the work environment, the more important it becomes to avoid these conditions. On April 22, OSHA introduced its Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers, which includes a website (www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html), public service announcements and materials for both workers and their employers. In announcing the campaign, Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor, remarked that heat “can be a real danger for workers in jobs ranging from agriculture and landscaping to construction, road repair, airport baggage handling, even car sales.” The agency is expected to enforce this agenda across the entire spectrum of industries where heat is a factor in the workplace. OSHA’s heat illness agenda also focuses upon what OSHA believes to be a disproportionate number of Latino worker injuries and fatalities due to outdoor heat exposure in certain occupations. Therefore, it is important for employers to evaluate their work sites and conditions for heat hazards and to implement a program to address any such hazards—and to provide training and information to employees in a language they understand. The hazards of excessive heat exposure could potentially involve employer legal duties under many laws, including OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act), state OSHA regulations and worker’s compensation, among others. It is important to note that federal occupational safety and health laws are not created in a vacuum. States are becoming increasingly active a MarK a. lies ii is a labor and employment law attorney and partner with the law firm of seyfarth shaw llP in chicago. He specializes in occupational safety and health law and related employment law litigation. lies may be reached at 312/460-5877 or mlies@seyfarth.com. saMuel c. burcH is senior litigation counsel with aGl resources inc. in atlanta. He may be reached at 404/584-3708 or sburch@aglresources.com. 20 august/september 2011 AmericAn GAs http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - August/September 2011

American Gas - August/September 2011
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
Industry News
Safety First
Is Now the Time for NGVs?
NGVs for America
The Drive to Succeed
Peer Pressures
Vendor News
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Jobline
Facts on Gas

American Gas - August/September 2011