OSHA Proposes New Heat Standard Protocols

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed significant amendments to the regulations governing worker exposure to heat. The proposed rule would require employers with 10 or more employees to develop a written heat injury and illness prevention plan (HIIPP), which must be reevaluated and reviewed at least annually, as well as each time a heat-related illness or injury results in loss of consciousness, medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work, or death.

The proposed rule also includes requirements for employers when the workplace reaches specific "heat triggers." At the "initial heat trigger," a heat index of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must ensure that employees have cool drinking water, cool break areas, paid rest breaks, and "acclimatization protocols" (see below for details). At the "high heat trigger," a heat index of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the employer must also provide mandatory