labor lawAdivision of labor law center

With temperatures soaring in Washington and throughout the nation in the past few weeks, the Washington Department of Labor & Industry has issued a worker safety warning for employers.

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries in Tumwater wants employers to be aware of precautions that workers must take to avoid heat stress, heat stroke and heat-related illness.

Tragically, heat-related illnesses in the workplace can result in disability and even death.

Employees should take these precautions when working outdoors, especially in hot, sunny conditions: 

• Drink as much as one cup of water every 15 minutes
•  Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness
•  Pace your work and take breaks.
•  Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
•  Avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals  

The same precautions apply when employees work indoors without air conditioning, especially in industries involving heat such as factories and restaurant kitchens.

Heat-related illness can cause serious medical conditions, including disability and death.

The L&I emphasizes that Washington employers are required to provide safe working conditions for employees, including protection from heat-related illness.

Supervisors and workers should be trained to recognize the symptoms of heat stress and to respond. During especially hot weather, employees may need to take rest breaks as frequently as every hour. If possible, breaks should be taken in an air-conditioned location such as a building or vehicle.

Workers suffering from heat stress may be disoriented and unable to summon help. For that reason, employees should never work alone in hot weather. Employers should use the buddy system, with employees charged with the responsibility of watching out for each other. Employees should also be trained in responding to heat stress and heat stroke, including giving the worker extra liquids, cooling them off in an air-conditioned location, and summoning professional help. 

More information and resources regarding  outdoor heat exposure are available.

The Maryland Flexible Leave Act requires employers to allow employees to use “leave with pay” for an illness in the employee’s immediate family.

Under this law, “leave with pay” includes vacation, PTO, sick leave, and personal leave. It also includes compensatory time, or “comp time” for those agencies or employers that provide it. Employees can only use paid leave that has been earned. Employers are not required to grant leave that has been accrued but not earned, under this law.

The act defines immediate family as a child, spouse or parent.     .

The new Maryland law does not require that employers offer paid leave of any sort. However, when a Maryland employer does offer such leave, he  or she must permit  employees to use it when a family member is sick.

Under new FMLA or Family and Medical Leave Act regulations that go into effect on January 17, 2009 employers must permit workers to use (more…)

There have been a number of changes to the New Mexico labor law posters in the past 12 months, which every employer should be aware of.

Employers must keep current New Mexico labor law posters on display, where they can be seen by all employees (and in some cases, all applicants.) Employers who fail to do so are subject to citations, fines and/or penalties.

The New Mexico labor law posters New Mexico labor law posters include:

• OSHA - Health and Safety Protection
• New Ombudsman Workers’ Compensation
• Workers’ Compensation
• Minimum Wage
• Discrimination Notice 

The new Ombudsman workers’ compensation poster provides contact information for injured workers to appeal or contest denied claims, under the law.

New Mexico employers also must display (more…)