For some years now, Cal OSHA has been rigorously enforcing their Outdoor Heat Stress law. In summary, if the outdoor temperature gets above 85 degrees in the shade (other risk factors like radiant heat apply) then employers must take special precautions to protect their employees. In one instance in the Central Valley, an employer and their foreman were arrested for manslaughter when an employee of theirs became sick and subsequently died from heat stress while working.

How would an indoor heat stress law affect the restaurant industry? Kitchens would be the main area of concern. A lot of factors can go into determining whether a kitchen may go over an assuming 85 degree temperature including:

The size of the kitchen; The number of employees in the kitchen at one time; Ventilation; Air movement; Humidity; Radiant heat from appliances such as stoves, ovens and deep fat fryers; and even The types of food being prepared (some spices for instance)

Regardless of Cal OSHA's indoor heat stress proposal, according to Cal OSHA's "General Duty Clause", and employer has a legal responsibility to provide their employees with a safe workplace. We can only assume sooner or later Cal OSHA will have an indoor heat stress law, so the time to plan is now.

HR Ideas can assist you will all your Human Resources needs including OSHA safety required programs and trainings.

For more information about this topic or other HR related issues, contact Ted Schwartz Safety Manager HR Ideas.

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