This spring, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to protect millions of workers from heat illnesses and injuries. Through the program, OSHA is conducting heat-related workplace inspections before workers suffer completely preventable injuries, illnesses or even worse, fatalities.
OSHA reports:
Heat illness affects thousands of indoor and outdoor workers each year and can tragically lead to death. Reducing workplace heat-related illnesses and injuries is a top priority for the Department of Labor, and this National Emphasis Program is a way to immediately improve enforcement and compliance efforts, while continuing long-term work to establish a heat illness prevention rule.
“According to the agency, workers suffer over 3,500 injuries and illnesses related to heat each year,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This is the first NEP to protect workers from indoor and outdoor heat hazards. It encourages employers to protect workers from heat hazards and contains both enforcement and outreach/compliance assistance components. It also establishes heat priority days when the heat index is expected to be 80°F or higher, which is common in Puerto Rico and across the region. The NEP went into effect on April 8, 2022 and will remain in place for three years unless canceled or extended by a superseding directive.”
Helping companies and institutions comply with protecting workers from thermal stressors and other occupational exposure risks are the professionals at Zimmetry Environmental. Their industrial hygienists offer comprehensive occupational testing, monitoring and training services. Last year, Zimmetry even sponsored an educational video about heat stress and the work environment that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/25NUviXBpTc
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their industrial hygiene, compliance and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
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