Understanding New OSHA Guidelines on Heat Safety: Protecting Workers from Heat-Related Hazards

As the recent temperature spikes have reminded us, heat is the number one cause of hazardous weather-related deaths in the United States. Despite this fact, many workplaces have yet to implement adequate, well-documented processes to protect employees from extreme heat. Workers in manufacturing, construction, or settings with machinery that generate excessive heat are the most at risk for illness or injury. As climate change intensifies, addressing these risks and implementing effective heat safety protocols has never been more critical.

Current Status and Proposed Changes

In response to these concerns, OSHA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings to establish heat safety standards at the federal level.

According to OSHA’s statement, the proposed standards will require employers to develop and implement holistic plans to evaluate and control heat hazards in the workplace. Under this plan, employer obligations are clarified into two applicable heat thresholds and provide monitoring requirements as well as control measures when those heat thresholds are reached or exceeded. Employers are allowed the option to choose between two measuring methods to determine heat threshold compliance: heat index or wet bulb globe temperature.

The initial heat threshold is equal to a heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or wet bulb globe temperature equal to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) recommended alert limit. A second “high heat trigger” is issued when the heat index equals or is more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit or a wet bulb globe temperature equal to the NIOSH exposure limit.

In any indoor work environment, employers will be required to identify high-exposure risk areas, develop documentation for a monitoring plan, and maintain records of heat measurements. Employers must also ensure they reevaluate these plans when outdoor temperatures rise dramatically or there are changes to production that significantly alter workplace temperatures. ? ?????????????

Alongside the new control measures, employers must also develop a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (HIIPP) that must include an applicable list of covered workplace activities, processes to comply with the new standard, an outline of which heat measurement they are using, specific personnel dedicated to implementing the HIIPP, an emergency response plan as well as specific provisions for indoor and other work environments.

How You Can Participate

OSHA encourages public participation by submitting comments when the proposed standard is officially published in the Federal Register. Your input is invaluable in developing a final rule that not only protects workers but is also feasible for employers and grounded in the best available evidence.

Partner with SevenGen

SevenGen’s team of certified professionals is well-equipped to help your organization navigate these new OSHA guidelines and implement effective heat safety measures. Our Industrial Hygiene can assist via qualitative and quantitative heat stress/strain-related evaluations, and our Safety team can work with you on program and policy development and training. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit our website or contact us today.