HB735 – Governor’s Letter

Dear Membership,

Your board has drafted a letter to the Governor outlining the negative impact HB735 has had on our locally licensed Specialty Marine Contractors. We have spoken with a lobbyist that has confidence they can work with the Governor’s office to rectify the licensing situation that HB735 has caused. We know specifically that Lee County is allowing all county licenses to sunset on 9/1/22, in addition to some other counties.

Since we are a non-profit association, we do not generate large amounts of income, therefore, we may need to increase annual dues to help offset the cost of a lobbyist, however it will provide the Association with a better foot hold on legislative issues that impact our membership.

We will also be calling on our membership in the near future for donations to help cover the one time cost associated with HB735.

Please spread the word with your local Specialty Marine Contractors in your area. If they are not a member, they should be a member as we are working to help them as well. The more legitimate Marine Contractor Members we have, the stronger/louder our voice is.

Any questions, call Kelly White 904-553-5189!

EXPO planning is underway!

We are looking for sponsors! Last year: Keys Deck & Sock Supply was our Grand Sponsor and their contribution really made the event a success! We really appreciate the support.

Registration will be live Monday April 18, 2022. Keep an eye out for the link to register for the event. You will be able to register for the hotel rooms after you have completed the event registration.

We have a lot going on and will have lined up some great workshops already.

Any questions, reach out to Kelly White 904-553-5189!

Looking forward to seeing everyone again and maybe some new faces too.

HB 735 – creating problems

Local & county licenses have been impacted by HB735 allowing counties to sunset their local licenses eff 7/1/2023. Please reach out to your local licensing authorities to determine if your county will continue to renew your “substantially similar” license. Each county is responding differently, so it is important for you to understand the impact on your licenses within the various counties you work.

For more information you are welcome to reach out to the Executive Director, Kelly White 904-553-5189.

House Bill, H.R. 5376 – heat stress & increased fines

https://jordanbarab.com/confinedspace/2021/10/28/build-back-better-increases-oshas-budget-and-penalties/

House bill, H.R. 5376

The bill also includes significant increases in OSHA’s maximum penalties:

Penalties for serious violations (and failure to abate violations) would increase from $13,653 to $70,000
Penalties for willful violations (and repeat violations) would increase from $136,530 to $700,000.

Pull the bill and read it folks! Not good

US Department of Labor announces enhanced, expanded measures to protect workers from hazards of extreme heat, indoors and out

OSHA Inspectors can enter a job after seeing an employee sweat!

News Release from OSHA
________________________________________
U.S. Department of Labor | September 20, 2021
US Department of Labor announces enhanced, expanded measures to protect workers from hazards of extreme heat, indoors and out
Part of an interagency Biden-Harris administration effort to protect workers, communities
WASHINGTON – To combat the hazards associated with extreme heat exposure – both indoors and outdoors – the White House today announced enhanced and expanded efforts the U.S. Department of Labor is taking to address heat-related illnesses.
As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s interagency effort and commitment to workplace safety, climate resilience, and environmental justice, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is initiating enhanced measures to protect workers better in hot environments and reduce the dangers of exposure to ambient heat.
While heat illness is largely preventable, and commonly under-reported, thousands of workers are sickened each year by workplace heat exposure. Despite widespread under-reporting, 43 workers died from heat illness in 2019, and at least 2,410 others suffered serious injuries and illnesses. Increasing heat precipitated by climate change can cause lost productivity and work hours resulting in large wage losses for workers. The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center estimates the economic loss from heat to be at least $100 billion annually – a number that could double by 2030 and quintuple by 2050 under a higher emissions scenario.
To emphasize its concern and take necessary action, OSHA is implementing an enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards, developing a National Emphasis Program on heat inspections, and launching a rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard. In addition, the agency is forming a National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work Group to provide better understanding of challenges and to identify and share best practices to protect workers.
“Throughout the nation, millions of workers face serious hazards from high temperatures both outdoors and indoors. Amid changing climate, the growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing the dangers workers face, especially for workers of color who disproportionately work in essential jobs in tough conditions,” said U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. “As Secretary of Labor, my priority is to make sure we are taking appropriate action to keep workers healthy and safe on the job.”
OSHA implemented an intervention and enforcement initiative recently to prevent and protect workers from heat-related illnesses and deaths while they are working in hazardous hot environments. The newly established initiative prioritizes heat-related interventions and inspections of work activities on days when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
“While agricultural and construction workers often come to mind first when thinking about workers most exposed to heat hazards, without proper safety actions, sun protection and climate-control, intense heat can be harmful to a wide variety of workers indoors or outdoors and during any season,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.
The OSHA initiative applies to indoor and outdoor worksites in general industry, construction, agriculture and maritime where potential heat-related hazards exist. On days when a recognized heat temperature can result in increased risks of heat-related illnesses, OSHA will increase enforcement efforts. Employers are encouraged to implement intervention methods on heat priority days proactively, including regularly taking breaks for water, rest, shade, training workers on how to identify common symptoms and what to do when a worker suspects a heat-related illness is occurring, and taking periodic measurements to determine workers’ heat exposure.
OSHA Area Directors across the nation will institute the following:
• Prioritize inspections of heat-related complaints, referrals and employer-reported illnesses and initiate an onsite investigation where possible.
• Instruct compliance safety and health officers, during their travels to job sites, to conduct an intervention (providing the agency’s heat poster/wallet card, discuss the importance of easy access to cool water, cooling areas and acclimatization) or opening an inspection when they observe employees performing strenuous work in hot conditions.
• Expand the scope of other inspections to address heat-related hazards where worksite conditions or other evidence indicates these hazards may be present.
In October 2021, OSHA will take a significant step toward a federal heat standard to ensure protections in workplaces across the country by issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaki