HR4353-119

What This Bill Does

The Timothy J. Barber Act directs the Secretary of Labor to examine how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration spends money on technical assistance and compliance assistance for heat-related illness. The study must look at effectiveness nationally and regionally and determine how the spending could be made more effective. Within 180 days, Labor must report to Congress with results and recommendations for legislative or other action. The bill does not create a new heat standard, but it forces a focused evaluation of whether OSHA assistance spending reaches workers and employers in places that may not see themselves as traditional high-heat jurisdictions.

Who Benefits and How

Workers exposed to heat illness benefit because Congress would receive evidence on whether OSHA assistance spending is effective. Employers needing heat-safety guidance benefit if the study improves technical assistance and compliance assistance. OSHA regional offices benefit from a review of national and regional spending effectiveness. Congressional labor committees benefit from recommendations on legislative or administrative changes to heat-illness assistance.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of Labor must conduct the study and submit the report within 180 days. OSHA program offices must provide spending, effectiveness, and regional information for the review. Federal workplace-safety analysts must develop recommendations for improving heat-related illness assistance. Employers may later face revised outreach or compliance expectations if Labor recommends changes.

Key Provisions

• Requires a Labor Department study of OSHA spending on heat-related illness technical assistance and compliance assistance.
• Requires effectiveness review at both national and regional levels.
• Directs Labor to identify how spending may be made more effective.
• Requires a congressional report within 180 days with legislative or other recommendations.