Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1505029
36 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – FALL 2023 Employers should have a plan in place in case of a heat illness emergency. This plan should include procedures for identifying and treating heat illness, as well as procedures for protecting workers from the heat. Employers should also monitor the weather forecast and take steps to protect workers if temperature or humidity is expected to be high. We do it for thunderstorms and as I have already pointed out, heat is a more deadly phenomenon. According to the CDC, "The best way to acclimate yourself to the heat is to increase the workload performed in a hot setting gradually over a period of 1–2 weeks. Perhaps productions should be required to bring in extra workers or limit outdoor work during the acclimatization period. Heat illness is a concern for all unions. On 6/15/2023, the Teamsters announced that UPS had agreed to provide air- conditioning in all new vans. "Air-conditioning is coming to UPS, and Teamster members in these vehicles will get the relief and protection they've been fighting for," Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said. Requiring cooling tents, extra workers, or other solutions should be proposed by the IA as we ramp up for negotiations on a new agreement with the AMPTP. Like the Teamsters, it is time for us to demand action on this issue at the bargaining table. Even under the best protections, it is still true that we will still have a need to look out for each other both above and below the line. One condition of heat illness is confusion and a confused person can't be trusted to make the best decisions for themselves. With temperatures in Los Angeles reaching what is traditionally our hottest time of the year, it is up to all of us to learn and recognize the signs of heat illness. Heat illness isn't just something that occurs outdoors, it can happen indoors too or on days with multiple locations both indoors and outdoors. Thus, California is considering new indoor regulations. So there goes California again, creating new regulations that are bad for business, right? Not this time! In considering the new regulations, California commissioned a cost analysis from the prestigious think tank, Rand Corporation. When Rand ran the numbers, they found that heat mitigation measures in the workplace proposed by California would reduce approximately two hundred injuries a year and prevent one to two deaths per year on average in indoor work environments. The study estimates the reduction in heat injury and death would add $200 million a year in benefits for California businesses! Truly a win-win situation! On union productions, we already have one tool in place; Safety Bulletin #35 "Safety Considerations for the Prevention of Heat Illness." The summary states, "Heat illness is preventable. Know your limits and take time to adjust to the heat. Above all, drink plenty of water and immediately report any signs of heat illness in yourself or others." But, is that really enough? One thing that irks me about this safety bulletin summary, as well as the language in many safety bulletins is that they place the burden of action for staying safe squarely on the workers. How many times have you heard someone in authority on a set say, "We are providing everyone some time to adjust to the heat." What is the AMPTP's responsibility in protecting us from heat illness? "Requiring cooling tents, extra workers, or other solutions should be proposed by the IA as we ramp up for negotiations on a new agreement with the AMPTP. Like the Teamsters, it is time for us to demand action on this issue at the bargaining table." –Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien