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OSHA Issues Heat Injury and Prevention Proposed Rule

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule. OSHA’s proposed rule would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction and require employers to develop programs and implement controls to protect employees from heat hazards. Read ABC’s release on the proposed rule.

Elements of the proposal include the following: 

  • Training requirements for supervisors, heat safety coordinators and employees;
  • Developing and implementing a worksite heat injury and illness prevention plan (a written plan must be created for employers with more than 10 employees);
  • An initial heat trigger with a heat index of 80°F (or equivalent wet bulb globe temperature). Requirements for employers include providing drinking water, break areas for indoor and outdoor worksites, acclimatization of new and returning employees, paid rest breaks if needed and more;
  • A high heat trigger with a heat index of 90°F (or equivalent wet bulb globe temperature). Requirements for employers include mandatory rest breaks of 15 minutes at least every two hours (an unpaid meal break may count as a rest break); warning signs for excessively high heat areas and more;
  • Two different options for acclimatization procedures for new and returning workers; and
  • Additional recordkeeping requirements.

OSHA is giving the public 120 days to submit written comments on the proposal after publication in the Federal Register, which will likely occur in the next couple of weeks.

OSHA resources on the proposed rule:

ABC will continue to review and analyze the more than 1,000 pages of the proposed rule.

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