California's Department of Industrial Relations announced recently that amendments to the state's current heat illness prevention regulations have been approved by the Office of Administrative Law and become effective as of May 1, 2015. The updated regulation applies to agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, as well as transportation of agricultural goods and construction or heavy materials.Revisions include:

• Water must be pure, suitably cool, provided free to workers, and must be located as close as practicable to where employees are working so they can hydrate frequently during their shift, when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.

• Shade is required for all workers on break and for all those who take their meal periods on site; for climates cooler than 80 degrees, shade must still be made available upon request; workers who take cool-down rest breaks must be monitored and asked whether they are experiencing heat illness symptoms. 

These modifications are put in place to help further reduce heat-related risks associated with working outdoors. The changes also provide valuable information to help employers understand how to prevent heat illness in the workplace, and comply with the new requirements.

Last week, Darlene Besst attended the Construction Enforcement Coalition meeting in Sacramento, where recommendations of the Little Hoover Commission were discussed. The Little Hoover Commission is an independent state oversight agency that was created in 1962. The Commission's mission is to investigate state government operations and, through reports, recommendations and legislative proposals, promote efficiency, economy and improved service. Over the past year, the commission heard from the Coalition and other concerned Californians about the challenges of the insidious multi-billion dollar underground economy. The Little Hoover Commission undertook a study and provided 15 recommendations in an effort to help level the playing field for California businesses and protect workers by reducing the scale of the underground economy. The recommendations fell into three board categories, including enforcement, accountability and education. The full report is available from the Commission's website.

The goal of OSHA is for you to go home whole and healthy every day. OSHA helps protect you by setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards, and by providing safety and health information and assistance to employees and employers. This 5-minute Safety Talk outlines your rights and responsibilities under OSHA Rules.