Safety & Regulatory Compliance

[aviator]

Does anyone know if there are any legal restrictions for my employees to be able to take the day off because of heat? 

[njc1979]

Local state laws could vary, if applicable.  Your best bet would be to consult with your HR reps or employment law professional for your state and your business.  

[working4weekend]

Who says there is no such thing as global warming? There has been record breaking heat in my area of the country and I've had to become familiar with OSHA regulations. You can find a lot of info at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/standards.html but at a minimum you need to know:

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees".

Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

One thing I didn't know is that many states have their own state plans covering this topic. Make sure you know the rules in your state!

Stay cool out there.....

[MachineGuy]

If you cant take the heat...get out of the kitchen....really

[GT]

Any "worker" in the construction industry who questions heat as a reason to not come to work will have a very short career in any job that involves outside labor.  There are plenty of willing workers looking to work these days for the right reasons... the heat question should be addressed during the interviewing process.