The US Department of Labor has tasked OSHA with putting together a new rule for combating Heat Stress in the workplace. The proposed rule has just been released, and we've put together all of the main points directly from the official document here:

• The document outlines the requirements for a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (HIIPP), including a comprehensive list of covered work activities, policies and procedures, and identification of the heat metric to be monitored.
• The employer must evaluate heat stress hazards resulting from vapor-impermeable clothing and include these evaluations in the HIIPP.
• Heat hazards must be identified through monitoring heat conditions at outdoor work areas or on-site measurements for indoor work areas.
• Controls must be implemented when employees are exposed to heat at or above the initial heat trigger, including providing access to drinking water, break areas with shade or air-conditioning, increased air movement or air-conditioned work areas, and evaluating fan use.
• Acclimatization protocols must be implemented for new and returning employees, unless they have consistently worked under similar conditions in the prior 14 days.
• Additional controls must be implemented when employees are exposed to heat at or above the high heat trigger, including providing paid rest breaks every two hours, observing employees for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, and placing warning signs at indoor work areas with high temperatures.
• The document outlines requirements for heat illness and emergency response planning, including the development of a heat emergency response plan and immediate actions to reduce an employee's body temperature in a heat emergency.
• Training requirements are specified for employees, supervisors, and heat safety coordinators.
• Recordkeeping requirements include maintaining records of on-site measurements at indoor work areas for 6 months.
• The implementation of all requirements must be at no cost to employees, and compliance with the standard is effective within a specified timeline.
• Amendments to other parts of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards state that the requirements for heat injury and illness prevention in specific industries are identical to the requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1910.148.

This rule is not yet finalized while the DOL and OSHA field comments and concerns from the public. If finalized, these new rules will apply to all of the listed business types in the document. If you would like to read the document in its entirety, you can find it HERE.

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