OSHA Heat Regulations: Heat Injury and Illness Prevention FAQs

Recent advancements in OSHA’s attempts to create a standard for Heat Injury and Illness place increasing responsibility on companies to protect workers from heat-related dangers. As a business owner or manager, this raises some questions.

In this article, we’re sharing everything you need to know about OSHA’s new heat rules, what they could entail for businesses, and how best to prepare. We’ll also cover how Mosey can level up your corporate compliance management.

What Are OSHA’s Proposed Heat Regulations?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is developing a federal heat illness prevention plan to lower worker injuries and deaths linked to heat exposure. The proposed rule would cover outdoor and indoor work settings in several sectors.

It would affect general industry, marine, construction, and agricultural sectors where heat stress is common. The aim is to provide companies with unambiguous instructions on how to spot and manage heat hazards, which could span mild to extreme heat conditions.

Why Is OSHA Focused on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention?

Of all the hazards connected to weather, heat is the main one causing death. Excessive heat caused nearly 480 deaths among workers between 2011 and 2022. Moreover, there were approximately 34,000 heat-related illnesses that caused missed workdays.

That said, underreporting likely results in an underestimation of these figures. The new federal OSHA heat rule seeks to provide a methodical approach to managing heat stress, ensuring workplace safety for people in high-risk jobs.

Heat exposure can trigger everything from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. However, with the correct policies in place, heat-related illness is avoidable. This Occupational Safety and Health Act seeks to give employers clear direction to prevent fatalities and other significant health effects due to workplace heat.

What Are the Main Components of the Proposed OSHA Heat Rule?

OSHA’s proposed heat injury and illness prevention plan has been carefully constructed to ensure the best outcome for businesses and their workers.

As an employer, you will need to implement the following:

Heat Conditions

Companies will have to evaluate their heat exposure risk using ambient temperature and humidity data or heat index thresholds. Determining whether to implement preventative measures — such as providing drinking water, extending rest breaks, or shifting work schedules to avoid the hottest part of the day — all depend on monitoring.

For context, both indoor and outdoor workers can experience high heat triggers when the heat index reaches as low as 83°F.

Engineering Controls

Companies might have to apply engineering controls to reduce heat hazards. In outdoor work environments, this might include building shaded work areas, providing access to air-conditioned spaces, or using mechanical fans and ventilation systems.

Depending on indoor heat settings, employers may need to install air conditioning, improve ventilation, or isolate heat sources like furnaces, machinery, or ovens. These measures make sure that workers aren’t subject to dangerously high temperatures while on the job.

Administrative Controls

These controls focus on workplace regulations and procedures intended to reduce heat exposure. Administrative controls could include changing work schedules to avoid the hottest part of the day, ensuring workers are acclimatized to high heat, and mandating frequent rest breaks.

Employers will also be required to give workers sufficient access to hydration, allowing for regular water intake to avoid heat stress and dehydration.

The prevention plan also calls for regular heat safety training for managers and staff to ensure everyone on-site recognizes the hazards and knows how to handle heat stress symptoms.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Sometimes, OSHA may demand that companies provide cooling vests or other PPE to guard employees from heat stress. Personal protection gear could also comprise specially made clothes that control body temperatures in extremely hot environments.

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What Is Acclimatization and Why Is It Important for Heat Safety?

Acclimatization is the gradual process of adjusting to hotter conditions. Workers who are new to a hot environment or returning after an absence are more likely to suffer heat injuries.

OSHA will likely mandate that companies gradually expose employees to heat so that their bodies can safely adapt to the new temperatures and reduce these risks.

If not treated quickly, these conditions can be deadly. Employers must develop strategies like tracking acclimatization schedules, especially in the summer when temperatures significantly rise or during heat waves.

What Are the Responsibilities of Employers Under the New Heat Rule?

If the proposed rule is passed, companies will be responsible for developing a documented heat illness prevention strategy. This strategy will specify the actions you should follow to reduce the possibility of heat-related illness and ensure every staff member is protected from excessive temperatures.

The plan will include the following measures:

Training Programs

Employers must make sure every employee is educated to identify the indicators of heat stress and know how to avoid it. Employees and supervisors should receive compliance training on how to spot heat hazards on the worksite and what steps to take if heat stroke or heat exhaustion is observed.

Emergency Response Plans

Employers will have to create well-defined procedures for handling heat-related medical emergencies. These guidelines will outline when to see a doctor and how to treat employees displaying signs of heat stress.

Employers should also be ready to send employees to cooler settings or offer prompt first aid when called for.

Recordkeeping

Compliance with OSHA’s proposed rule will likely require maintaining thorough records of temperature monitoring, cases of heat sickness, and the acclimatization of new and returning workers. These records will be crucial in proving compliance and handling any issues found during OSHA inspections.

How Does OSHA’s General Duty Clause Apply to Heat Hazards?

OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires businesses to provide a workplace free from known dangers, including heat hazards, even before a particular heat rule is finalized.

Regardless of the nature or location of their business, employers have a responsibility to handle heat-related risks in the workplace and implement suitable action to protect their employees.

Ignoring the General Duty Clause could result in fines, as OSHA has already started applying it to handle heat-related offenses. Under the new heat rule, employers can expect more detailed rules that will help clarify their obligations in controlling heat-related dangers.

What Should Employers Do Now To Get Ready?

Employers should proactively prepare for the changes, even though the suggested regulation is still under development.

Here’s what you can do:

Review Current State Laws

Certain states like Washington and California already have heat illness prevention policies in place. Companies operating in these states know the criteria for controlling heat exposure.

Many components of these current state programs may be included in OSHA’s proposed rule, so companies should review and understand these components to stay ahead of federal modifications.

Implement Best Practices

Follow the recommended practices for heat safety regardless of a federal heat rule. That means developing a heat illness prevention strategy, ensuring your workers have access to break areas and hydration, and teaching your team how to best avoid heat stress.

Once OSHA’s final rule is implemented, you will have already taken steps to ensure compliance. And as a result, your actions will help lower the risk of heat-related injury.

Stay Informed and Involved

Employers must read notices in the Federal Register to stay current with OSHA’s heat rulemaking process. OSHA also urges small businesses to provide feedback on the proposed rule and help shape its implementation through the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act’s (SBREFA’s) videoconferences.

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How Will OSHA Enforce the New Heat Regulations?

Once finalized, OSHA will start enforcing the proposed plan by monitoring businesses for the new heat guidelines. Companies that fail to implement a compliant heat illness prevention plan risk fines and possibly legal action.

OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards is already in effect and will continue through 2025 unless superseded by the new rule. This initiative lets OSHA officials give heat-related inspections first priority, so companies must be careful when following any upcoming regulations.

Manage State Compliance With Mosey

OSHA’s proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard is a major step toward protecting employees from the hazards of high temperatures. Employers should be proactive as the rulemaking process continues to ensure compliance and safeguard the health and welfare of their workers.

Although following regulations can be a challenge, especially when they differ between states, Mosey can help streamline the process. Our compliance management platform makes sure your company satisfies all state and local criteria, helping you simplify your compliance initiatives.

Mosey also helps businesses stay informed and compliant wherever their employees are located by automating tasks and offering real-time updates. Book a demo with Mosey to stay ahead.

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