OSHA Issues Rulemaking on Protections for Indoor & Outdoor Workers from Extreme Heat
August 13, 2024
In July 2024, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Labor in the Biden-Harris Administration issued a proposed rulemaking and draft regulatory language to help protect both indoor and outdoor workers from extreme heat. With heat as the leading cause of weather-related deaths nationwide and significant heat exposure happening in the workplace, according to the press release, this standard is estimated to help approximately 36 million workers nationwide.
The proposed rule would require employers to design and implement Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plans to control heat hazards in workplaces impacted by excessive heat. In addition to requiring businesses to: monitor heat risks, train employees on how to recognize heat-related illness, and communicate heat safety to employees, employers would also be obligated to implement regular water breaks, rest breaks, consider providing cooling personal protective equipment (like cooling vests), and to implement a buddy system for workers to keep an eye on each other and communicate when they need help.
Under the proposed standard, workplace protections in the heat would apply to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors in which OSHA has jurisdiction. Every covered employer would be obligated to implement a plan for evaluating and mitigating heat hazards in the workplace, with the ultimate goal to prevent and reduce the number of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities cause by exposure to extreme heat in the workplace.
As of August 2024, the draft regulatory language for a federal heat standard can be found here. Once the regulatory language is finalized and included in the Federal Register, then the effective date would be 60 days after its inclusion in the Register. OSHA asks the public to submit comments on the federal heat standard, and to testify at upcoming hearings in September. In addition to tracking and providing input on the federal heat standard, A Better City is also monitoring emerging discussions of occupational heat safety regulations within Boston City Council.
For more information, please contact Isabella Gambill.
