North Dakota
Viewpoint: Protecting North Dakota workers from heat is a hot topic
To the editor,
In most of the nation, all you need to do is to step outside to feel one of North Dakota’s deadliest hazards: extreme heat.
So far in 2024, the dangers of heat illness have killed 34 workers. In July, the U.S. Department of Labor announced publication of a proposed rule to reduce the significant health risks for workers exposed to hazardous heat in outdoor and indoor settings.
As heat sets new records across the nation, the risks people face on the job are rising. Dozens of workers needlessly lose their lives and thousands more suffer illnesses related to hazards that, sadly, are most often preventable.
As OSHA moves through the regulatory process to develop a new regulation that keeps workers safe from the dangers of heat, the agency will use its authority to hold employers responsible when they fail to protect workers. It includes OSHA’s power to stop employers from exposing workers to imminent workplace dangers.
Since 2022, the agency has conducted heat-related inspections under its
National Emphasis Program – Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards
. The program allows OSHA to proactively inspect workplaces where heat-related hazards are common to prevent workers’ needless injuries, illnesses or deaths. Since it began, the program has led to more than 7,000 federal heat-related inspections, including 85 inspections in North Dakota in 2023-2024.
OSHA is making inspections a priority in agricultural industries where temporary, non-immigrant H-2A workers are employed seasonally. These workers can be especially vulnerable, often with language barriers, less control over living and working conditions and lack of time to acclimatize to the heat.
Federal law requires employers to protect people from all workplace dangers, including heat exposure. When heat is a concern, employers must — at a minimum — provide adequate cool water, rest breaks and shade or a cool rest area. New employees or those returning to a high-heat workplace should get time to gradually get used to working in heat.
As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s remember that these protections must be applied equally. A safe workplace is every worker’s right, regardless of color, language, socio-economic status or gender. Nobody should have to risk their safety, health or life at work. Workers deserve to return home at the end of their shift in the same condition they began it.
Scott Overson
OSHA area director for North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota voters to decide single-subject requirement for future constitutional amendments on June 9
BRECKENRIDGE — Coaches, teammates, friends and family gathered in the south parking lot of Breckenridge High School for another state tournament sendoff.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
This year, it was Troy Berndt taking the ceremonial convertible ride. He is headed to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the Minnesota Class A State Track and Field Meet on June 4-6.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
He will be running in the third heat of the 400-meter prelims, scheduled for 4:52 p.m. June 4. There are seven athletes in each heat, 21 total, and nine will advance to the finals at 6:20 p.m. June 5.
The top two finishers in each heat advance, along with the next three best times. Berndt’s personal best time of 50.67 has him seeded 13th, but the 10th-, 11th- and 12th-seeded runners are less than five hundredths of a second ahead of him. The eighth- and ninth-seeded runners are also close, at 50.33 and 50.39, respectively.
Berndt dropped nearly seven-tenths of a second from his previous personal best at the Section 6A West Subsection Meet on May 21, running 51.35, and shaved another 0.68 seconds off at the Section 6A Championships on May 28 with a time of 50.67. If he keeps lowering his time, he will have a shot at reaching the podium against the best runners in Class A.
Corbin Abner Lee / Wahpeton Daily News
Results and photos will be available online immediately following the race June 4 and in the June 10 print edition of the Wahpeton Daily News.
Corbin Lee is a sports reporter for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News-Monitor. Corbin can be reached by calling (701) 291-3551 or emailing corbin.lee@wahpetondailynews.com.
On this day in 1971, Rugby repeated as North Dakota’s high school sand greens golf champion behind medalist Dwight Stempson’s winning performance.
Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:
Rugby Repeats As Sand Greens Golf Champion
RUGBY, N. D. — Rugby repeated as North Dakota high school sand greens golf champion here Wednesday, posting a four-man total of 293 strokes for 18 holes.
Led by medalist Dwight Stempson’s medalist 36-35 — 71, the Panthers were eight strokes ahead of runnerup Stanley, which had a 301. Following were Garrison 311, Beulah 315, Leeds 322, Ashley 323, Bottineau 328, Pembina 329, Tioga 332, Parshall 341 and Hettinger 342.
Stempson and teammate Bruce Carlson each had one-under par 71s, but Carlson was unable to be at the regional and wasn’t qualified for individual honors.
Rounding out the Rugby totals were Delwin Wilson 40-37 — 77 and Dennett Hutchinson 35-39 — 74. Gary Kirchoffner, 41-39 — 80, was Rugby’s fifth entrant with the best four-of-five scores counted.
Runnerup Stanley was led by Steve Springan’s 34-38 — 72 and Joe Springan’s 36-38 — 74. Their two-man total of 146 strokes was good enough for the doubles title. Two strokes back with a 148 was the duo of Stempson and Wilson. Stan Saathoff and Mike Stepina of Garrison each had 76s for a 152 total and the Ashley combo of Steve Maier (76) and Dave Kretschmar (78) was fourth with a 154.
Stempson was the driving contest winner with a distance of 280 yards. Chris Knutson of Garrison headed the pitch and putt competition.
Kate Almquist is the social media manager for InForum. After working as an intern, she joined The Forum full time starting in January 2022. Readers can reach her at kalmquist@forumcomm.com.
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