Washington L&I Updated Rules Add New Protections for Outdoor Workers

Washington L&I Updated Rules Add New Protections for Outdoor Workers

The new rules went into effect in the summer of 2023.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has taken new steps to protect outdoor workers.

In a release dated August 15, L&I announced its updated rules for outdoor workers, which went into effect on June 27, 2023. The rules are contingent upon the forecasted temperature, with employers required to take certain precautions at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

In 80-degree weather, employers must allow outdoor workers to take paid rest periods to cool down, provide shade or a designated cooling zone and present each worker with a quart of cool drinking water per hour. Likewise, employers must keep a close eye on all employees during high heat periods, especially new workers and those returning from an absence.

At 90 degrees and higher, employer demands also include a 10-minute paid rest period for workers every two hours. Then at 100 degrees, that requirement intensifies to a 15-minute cool-down break every hour.

All the details on L&I’s updated Outdoor Heat Exposures Rules are at www.Lni.wa.gov/HeatSmart.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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