“Cal/OSHA intends to revise the package with a narrow exemption in recognition of the unique implementation challenges that existing text may pose for local and state correctional facilities,” said Eric Berg, deputy chief of health for Cal/OSHA.
The agency will also craft industry-specific heat regulations for state and local correctional institutions in the future, Berg told the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.
CDCR, which employs tens of thousands of guards, nurses, janitors and other positions, has a $14.4 billion annual budget (PDF) as of last year. In addition, nearly 39,000 incarcerated people have jobs in state prisons, including manufacturing license plates, cell phone equipment and office furniture.
Business groups say they still have major concerns about the cost of the regulations and the feasibility of the proposed requirements for protecting workers when the temperature rises above 82 degrees. For instance, setting up a cool-down area would be impractical for small restaurants renting a locale, said Robert Moutrie, a senior policy advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce.
Moutrie told KQED it’d be unfair for the state to exempt one of its agencies because of potentially massive costs while making private employers pay.
“We are a little disappointed to see the cost to the state treated differently than the cost for private employers,” Moutrie said. “We understand the state budget is terrible this year, and we have to be pragmatic. However, all of the costs to state prisons that are causing an issue here also apply to businesses across California who are going to have to comply with this regulation.”
