What happened?

On June 20, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) adopted the new Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment, which applies to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F.

What are the details?

General Key Bites

• This standard applies to most workplaces where the indoor temperature reaches 82°F (reaches or exceeds). It contemplates some exceptions.
• It establishes required safety measures for indoor workplaces to prevent worker exposure to the risk of heat illness.
• For workplaces subject to the regulations employers will be required to do some or all the following depending on the heat index at the workplace, depending on the temperature.

Key Bites for Employers

• Develop a Written Heat Illness Prevention Plan
• Provide Fresh, Pure, and Suitably Cool Drinking Water
• Provide access to cool-down areas and Periods
• Acclimatization and Training
• Assess temperature, heat index, and evaluate risk factors of heat illness.
• Establish and maintain accurate records of either the temperature or heat index measurements.
• Use control measures to minimize the risk of heat illness including engineering controls, and administrative controls, depending on the temperature (below 87^o F/82^o F if clothing restricts heat removal or work).
• Develop emergency response procedures
• For a good breakdown: Link.

The Cal/OSHA Board has requested that the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) expedite its effective date. If this happens the standard will take effect in early August 2024. If the rule is not expedited, then it will take effect on October 1, 2024.

Business Considerations

• Employers should monitor the indoor temperature because if it reaches 82°F, the rules will apply.
• Employers should provide access to water and cool-down areas, including that water is readily available, and encourage employees to take regular and preventive cool-down rest breaks.
• Employers should implement effective emergency response procedures, including providing timely emergency aid.
• Employers should closely observe employees during acclimatization.
• Employers should provide effective training to all employees regarding exposure to heat illness, including familiarizing them with the symptoms of heat illness and knowing who to talk to and how and when to get help.
• Employers must create heat illness prevention plans. These can be integrated into an existing injury and illness prevention program, an existing heat illness prevention plan, or a separate policy.
• Employers should assess and control hot work areas. This includes methods for cooling down the work areas under certain conditions.

Source References

• DIR Indoor Heat Press Release
• CAL/OSHA indoor heat rule

Resources

• Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Guidance and Resources
• FAQs Related to Indoor Heat Illness Prevention

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