Understanding Heat Illness Prevention Laws
Publication
9.01.14
Chris Boman’s article “Understanding Heat Illness Prevention Laws” was featured in the September Issue of Landscape and Irrigation.
The article focused on a new California law that requires most employers whose employees work outdoors to implement a written Heat Illness Prevention Plan that references cool down periods. Effective January 1, 2014, California employers are now required to pay a premium of an hour’s pay for failing to provide or denying non-exempt employees what has become official known as a “recovery period.”
Chris explains the legal requirements of a recovery period, who’s eligible, and the ramifications of failing to provide a recovery period.
Moving forward, he cautions companies to determine if they have outdoor workers. If they do, management should inform these employees in writing (with a written acknowledgement placed in each employee’s personnel file) of their right to take a recovery period. Furthermore, Chris suggests that employees be directed to a contact a specific member of management if they are not permitted to take a needed break.
Related People
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- Christopher J. Boman
- Partner