Warm weather brings welcome relief from long winter months, but it also brings dangers for employees working outside. As summer approaches, it’s time to review your safety plans for protecting workers from heat illness hazards and to ensure compliance with state regulations. Cal/OSHA and Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) requirements depend on outdoor temperature thresholds, while Oregon OSHA rules apply to indoor or outdoor work when the heat index reaches certain levels. The Industrial Commission of Arizona and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (which governs workplace safety in Idaho and Montana) treat heat stress under the general duty clause, with an emphasis on industries with high heat exposures, such as agriculture and construction. OSHA recently extended their national emphasis program to conduct inspections, as well as provide outreach and compliance assistance for heat-related hazards; the emphasis program was set to expire on April 8, 2025, but was extended to April 8, 2026.
Take the following steps to avoid heat illness at work:
- Create a written heat illness prevention policy that addresses how to respond to emergencies. If you have a plan, make sure it’s compliant with your state’s current requirements.
- Train employees and supervisors to recognize hazards that cause heat illness, how to prevent or address the hazards, how to recognize heat illness symptoms, and how to respond if a co-worker becomes ill.
- Provide fresh, cool water, and encourage employees to drink adequate amounts.
- Provide extra rest periods during high heat times, and enough shade for everyone during rest breaks and meal periods.
- Consider fans, misting stations, or other options for helping employees cool down.
- Establish a system to acclimatize new or returning employees to warmer temperatures.
Tips: For additional questions about how to protect workers from heat illness, please contact your Vigilant safety professional. Also refer to the following list of heat illness prevention resources:
- Federal OSHA occupational heat exposure web page
- Industrial Commission of Arizona heat stress awareness web page and Arizona Dept. of Health Services outdoor worker toolkit
- Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention web page and heat illness e-tool
- Oregon OSHA heat stress web page
- Washington Dept. of Labor & Industries outdoor heat exposure publications
If you’re in California, Oregon, or Washington, review our Legal Guide, Heat Illness Prevention in the Workplace, for the specific requirements in those states. Also, be aware that in California, regulations also address indoor heat hazards as we previously reported.
