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Viewpoint: Protecting North Dakota workers from heat is a hot topic

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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.

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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.

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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





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North Dakota

BCI digging into who knew what, and when, as Holmberg investigation continues

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BCI digging into who knew what, and when, as Holmberg investigation continues


FARGO — The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation is looking into who knew what, and when, when it comes to the illegal actions of former North Dakota State Senator Ray Holmberg.

Holmberg pleaded guilty earlier this month to traveling to Prague to sexually abuse children.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley says the ongoing investigation into those who may have known about Holmberg’s actions isn’t just procedural, there are leads to follow.

“As the result of our BCI and joint state and federal investigation, we are aware of troubling allegations involving other individuals. And we are aware of those and are investigating them,” Wrigley said.

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Wrigley says investigators with the BCI, Homeland Security, and the FBI are also aware of allegations of potential witness tampering and obstruction of justice against people who may have known about Holmberg’s actions.

But just knowing about these allegations doesn’t mean they can take action any time soon.

“Us being aware of that is not being the same as us being able to move forward with charges. We have to have living breathing witnesses who will share their account of the information that they have and then any corroborating records and evidence that they might have,” Wrigley said.

Given Holmberg’s nearly five decades in the North Dakota State Senate, which included being the head of the Senate appropriations committee, Wrigley says the influence of Holmberg and those close to him can make getting witnesses to cooperate with the investigation more difficult.

“It can complicate things sometimes, people are intimidated about talking about someone that they might fear either financially or professionally or otherwise and that can add complications, but it’s not something we deal with routinely in law enforcement,” Wrigley said.

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Wrigley encourages anyone who has information about Holmberg to come forward and cooperate with the BCI and other investigators.





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North Dakota

Bank of North Dakota warns of scam

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Bank of North Dakota warns of scam


NORTH DAKOTA — The Bank of North Dakota warns that someone is sending fake emails under its name.

The scammer pretends to be the Bank of North Dakota, it said in a release, and tells people that a hold has been placed on their account.

“This is not a legitimate email and people should not click on any links or enter their credentials,” the release said. “If they mistakenly clicked on a link or entered credentials, they are instructed to email Bank of North Dakota at bnd@nd.gov and change their credentials on their BND account and any other account where they may use the same credentials.”

The Bank of North Dakota will never ask people for their login credentials, the release states, adding that their systems are still secure.

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Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.





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BND warns of scammer impersonating it

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BND warns of scammer impersonating it


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The Bank of North Dakota (BND) says someone is impersonating it in emails, telling members that a hold has been placed on their account.

It says these emails are scams, and that people should not click on any links in the email or enter their credentials.

BND says anyone who has already done so should email them at bnd@nd.gov and change their credentials for all their accounts that use the credentials they may have given the scammers.

BND says it will never reach out to ask for member’s login credentials.

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