labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Worker safety is still at risk due to exposure to asbestos, according to a recent Iowa OSHA alert.  Considered by many to be a thing of the past, asbestos still shows up in some workplaces from time to time. Asbestos does pose a danger to anyone in its vicinity.

Builders can no longer use asbestos and most of it used in construction prior to the ban has been removed.  The recent alert warns of its lingering presence in the automotive industry, however.  Older model cars and trucks may have asbestos in their brakes and clutches, where it poses a risk to mechanics working on these vehicles.

Asbestos is a mineral composed of tiny fibrous particles that can become airborne and inhaled.  These tiny particles are much too small to see with the naked eye but they pose extreme risk once inhaled.  Each year, 10,000 Americans die from lung and gastrointestinal cancers, asbestosis, and mesothelioma caused by the ingestion of asbestos.

One prime danger of asbestos in older vehicles is that there is no way to determine which ones might contain the substance.  For this reason, Iowa OSHA suggests that all parts of the clutch and brake systems of older vehicles be handled as if they do, in fact, contain asbestos.

With very few safe ways to handle asbestos, the recent Iowa OSHA alert recommends working with the substance in a negative pressure enclosure / HEPA vacuum system or using a low pressure / wet cleaning method.  The airborne nature of asbestos particles makes it a danger to the mechanic and to everyone in the shop, as well.

The Iowa worker safety alert specifically addresses occupational safety and health and holds no jurisdiction over people doing mechanical work on older model vehicles during private time but the risk affects them, too.  The state safety watchdog agency strongly recommends seeking professional services for any needed repairs to the clutch or brake systems of all older vehicles. 

It was not difficult to find the Iowa (IA) Labor Laws online. Many of them are similar in nature to other states’ labor laws. The IA Labor Laws cover things like minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor, and many other situations. Quite a few of the IA labor laws must be displayed in the work place. Employers often hand Iowa labor law posters in conspicuous areas around the business for easy access by employees. Some of these locations are the break room, work area and time clock.

The first IA labor law I found deals with the minimum wage. Iowa currently has their minimum wage set at $5.15, which is the same minimum wage set by the federal government. Some employees are not eligible for minimum wage, including certain student workers, executives paid a salary, and tipped employees. The tip credit an employer can claim is 40% of the state’s minimum wage.

The most detailed of the Iowa labor laws are those for child labor. These laws determine the age at which a minor may begin working, which jobs are allowed and which are restricted, how many hours a day the minor can work, how many consecutive days a minor can work, how many hours a minor can work through the week total, and which hours of the day they are permitted to work.

One of the IA labor laws states that all employees are entitled to a workplace free of hazards, as well. This law says that it is the employer’s responsibility to offer those working for him or her a working environment free of life-threatening hazards and other dangers that can cause serious physical injury.

The above laws are merely a sampling of the IA labor laws that are in effect throughout the state. If you would like to see more detailed information about Iowa’s labor laws, I suggest you find several of the Iowa Labor Law Posters. When you want information about both state and federal labor laws, you can find them both on the Iowa Complete Labor Law poster.