Draft Criteria document "Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments"

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces a public meeting concerning public review and discussion of a draft document entitled "Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments". Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness. Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam. Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others.

In 1986, NIOSH published a Criteria Document on hot environments [DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-113] http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/86-113/86-113.pdf which identified many of the effects of heat, provided information on appropriate measuring techniques, and made recommendations for occupational standards, prevention and control. In recent years, including during the oil spill response of 2010, questions were raised regarding whether this document needed to be updated with additional research and findings. Recent literature was reviewed to determine areas that needed updating and revision.

The public meeting will be held on February 13, 2014, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Eastern Time. Please note that public comments may end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. Members of the public who wish to provide public comments should plan to attend the meeting at the start time listed.

To view the notice and related materials, visit http://www.regulations.gov and enter CDC-2013-0025 in the search field and click "Search."

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Federal Register Notice:
Federal Register Notice

Material under consideration:

• Draft Document:Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Heat and Hot Environments

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Public Comment Period

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EST on February 25, 2014.

Written comments, identified by CDC-2013-0025 and docket number NIOSH-266, may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

  Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number [CDC-2013-0025; NIOSH-266]. All relevant comments, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov

• Mail: NIOSH Docket Office
  Robert A. Taft Laboratories
  MS-C34
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, OH 45226

Supplementary Information

Place: Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH 45226. Room: Taft Auditorium.

Attendance: The meeting is open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting space accommodates approximately 100 people. In addition, there will be an audio teleconference line for those who cannot attend in person. There is no registration fee to attend this public meeting. However, those wishing to attend are encouraged to register by February 5, 2014 with the NIOSH Docket Office at 513/533-8611 or email nioshdocket@cdc.gov. An e-mail confirming registration will be sent from NIOSH to all participants. Government-issued photo identification is required to obtain entrance to the NIOSH facility.

Non-U.S. Citizens: Because of CDC Security Regulations, any non-U.S. citizen wishing to attend this meeting must register on or before January 13, 2014 to allow sufficient time for mandatory CDC facility security clearance procedures to be completed.

For further information contact: Brenda Jacklitsch, Phone: (513)533-8369, Email: gwe6@cdc.gov, NIOSH, MS-C32, Robert A. Taft Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.