Summer weather conditions require measures to reduce risk to outdoor workers

MATTAWA — Working outdoors in the summer can present challenges from hot temperatures or smoky conditions caused by wildfires. It’s recommended that people stay inside when heat or smoke conditions exceed specific limits. While technology has changed farming techniques for many crops, staying out of the elements isn’t always possible for farmers and farmworkers. There are ways to reduce the risks posed by hot or smoky weather, which are reflected in work rules adopted by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. “The rules are based on best practices that protect workers from identified hazards that come with outdoor work in Washington,” wrote Dina Lorraine, communications consultant for L&I. “They evolved through the rulemaking process which involved extensive stakeholder conversations with workers, businesses, and others to establish what is needed from the worker perspective and feasible from the business side, while ensuring workers have adequate protection on the job.”