Bipartisan Support Seen for Bill Requiring OSHA Worker Heat Protections

• Congressional Democrats on Wednesday introduced a new version of a bill that would require the Department of Labor to issue heat protections for workers.
• The legislation is supported by some House Republicans, according to reports.
• Lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced the “Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act” for the past five years, with no success.
• The legislation would protect workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace by requiring OSHA to establish enforceable standards, such as paid breaks in cool spaces, access to water, limitations on time exposed to heat, and emergency response for workers with heat-related illness.
• It also directs employers to provide training for their employees on the risk factors that can lead to heat illness and guidance on the proper procedures for responding to symptoms.
• Meanwhile, OSHA is still considering a Biden-era rule proposal that would essentially match what’s covered in the proposed legislation.
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SBA, DoL Agree to Support Domestic Manufacturing

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support American manufacturing.
• The MOU will connect SBA’s capital and contracting tools with DOL’s workforce development infrastructure. Under the agreement, the agencies will expand data-sharing and coordination on programs such as DOL’s Registered Apprenticeship Program and the Veteran Employment Training Service.
• Manufacturing sites are frequently cited for OSHA violations and rank high in terms of penalties, often among the top industries along with construction and agriculture.
• Violations related to machine guarding and lockout/tagout procedures are common in manufacturing and can result in serious injuries like amputations.
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