Take ACTION by contacting Cal OSHA and your State Legislators and encouraging them to enact protections from extreme heat for those who work indoors.
- Find your California Assembly Member and Senator!
- Submit a petition to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board at Cal OSHA. Petitions submitted in writing should be mailed to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, 2520 Venture Oaks Way, Suite 350, Sacramento, California 95833 or emailed to oshsb@dir.ca.gov
Sample script:
Hello, my name is [your name]. I’m calling today to urge [name of Assembly Member or Senator] to bring attention to the need for heat protection for indoor workers. Right now, Cal-OSHA only has protections for outdoor workers. Given the extreme heat crisis we are facing across the state, unregulated warehouse temperatures are a serious danger to workers and thus indoor workers need added protection. As a constituent of California, I believe that each person employed within the state should be guaranteed a safe working environment. As a Jewish person, my religious tradition reminds me that those who cause harm are liable, including employers who do not protect their employees. As such, I urge [the Assembly Member or Senator’s name] to encourage Cal-OSHA to move forward with adding Section 3396 to Title 8. Thank you for your consideration.
Sample Petition:
To amend Title 8, General Safety Industry Orders (GSI), to include proposed Section 3396 to address the increased risk of heat exposure and illness by indoor workers as extreme heat becomes more prevalent across the state of California. The Petitioner asks that Section 3396 be implemented in full, immediately and that there are additional measures in place to ensure continued compliance and enforcement.
What is JCJ advocating for?
Section 3396 of Title 8, California’s General Industry Safety Orders, which has been proposed to Cal-OSHA but not filed, would:
- Ensure that employees receive potable drinking water that is suitably fresh, pure, cool and provided at no cost to the employees throughout the day
- Require that employers provide cool down areas for workers where they can sit comfortably and have personal space
- Prevent employees from being forced to continue working when they are exhibiting signs of heat illness
- Require that employers accurately monitor and record both the temperature and the heat index of the work space and abide by the protective guidelines for whichever measure poses more of a risk
Why are we advocating for heat protection for indoor workers?
As the climate crisis continues to take hold and we are faced with longer, more intense stretches of extreme heat, warehouse, factory, and kitchen workers as well as those employed in other indoor, un-air conditioned spaces, are at an increased risk of dangerous heat exposure. We feel a sense of responsibility to see that the protections in place for agricultural and other outdoor workers are extended to all employees who are at risk of heat illness due to hazardous conditions. As such, we want to use the resources at our disposal to encourage California to expand these protections immediately.
Additional Resources:
- Extreme Heat Puts Workers in Danger (LA Times)
- 20,000 workers a year are injured by California’s extreme heat (Desert Sun)
- Top 5 Ways California is Protecting People from Extreme Heat (CA.gov)
Action alert compiled by Hannah Pomerantz.