OSHA Proposed Heat Rule Publication

FRM Staff

The U.S. Department of Labor has released a proposed rule with the goal of protecting millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat. If finalized, the proposed rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses and deaths in the workplace.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Excessive workplace heat can lead to heat stroke and even death.

If finalized, the standard would require the formulation of a heat illness prevention plan. That plan will need to be in writing if an employer has 10 or more employees. Small employers with up to 10 employees would be exempted from the requirement. Employer
requirements under the standard or initial heat trigger, would go into effect when the heat index in the work area reaches 80°F or the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is equal to the NIOSH recommended alert limit. These requirements include:
■ Monitoring employees for heat stress
■ Identifying heat hazards
■ Providing water (one quart per employee per hour) and rest break areas
■ Indoor work area controls
■ Acclimatization
■ Hazard alerts
■ Maintenance of personal protective equipment for heat.

Additional requirements, known as the high heat trigger, would go into effect when the heat index reaches 90°F or the WGBT is equal to NIOSH’s recommended exposure limit. Those requirements include a minimum 15-minute paid rest break for employees every two
hours and observing employees for signs and symptoms of heat illness using:
■ A buddy system in which co-workers monitor one other
■ Observation by a supervisor or heat safety coordinator, with no more than 20 employees observed per supervisor or heat safety coordinator
■ Two-way communication for lone workers.

Employers would also have to place warning signs by indoor work areas where the ambient temperatures regularly exceed 120°F.

“Workers all over the country are passing out, suffering heatstroke and dying from heat exposure from just doing their job and something must be done to protect them,” OSHA Administrator Doug Parker stated. “This proposal is an important next step in the
process to receive public input to craft a ‘win-win’ final rule that protects workers while being practical and workable for employers.”

Employers would also be required to provide training, have procedures to respond if a worker is experiencing signs and symptoms of a heat-related illness and take immediate action to help a worker experiencing signs and symptoms of a heat emergency.

FRM

For more information on the proposed OSHA standard or to provide public comment, please visit
www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/.