California Approves Rules for Indoor Heat Illness Prevention

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued regulations that require employers to take certain steps to protect workers from heat illness if they have indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82° F. The regulations are effective immediately.

The details

The regulations apply to all indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82° F when workers are present. They don’t apply to outdoor working conditions, which are covered by different regulations.

If indoor workplaces reach a temperature of 82° F, employers must:

• Provide access to potable water that is fresh, suitably cool and free of charge. The water must be located as close as possible to work areas and cool-down areas.
• Provide access to at least one cool-down area, which must be kept at a temperature below 82° F, shielded from the sun and other high-radiant heat sources, large enough to accommodate the number of workers on rest breaks, so they can sit comfortably without touching each other, and be as close as possible to the work area.
• Encourage workers to take preventative cool-down rest periods, allow workers who ask for a cool-down rest period to take one, and monitor workers taking such rest periods for symptoms of heat-related illness.
• Provide first aid or emergency response to any workers showing heat illness signs or symptoms, including contacting emergency medical services.
• Closely observe new workers and newly assigned workers working in hot areas during a 14-day acclimatization period, as well as all workers working during a heat wave.
• Provide training to both workers and supervisors. Required topics include:
• Establish, implement and maintain an effective written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan (IHIPP) that includes procedures for providing drinking water, cool-down areas, preventative rest periods, close observation during acclimatization, assessment and measurement of heat, training, prompt emergency response, and feasible control measures. An IHIPP must be specific and customized to the employer’s operations. Cal/OSHA has created a model plan that employers may use but must tailor to their operations.

Additional requirements apply where the temperature or heat index reaches 87° F, such as cooling down the work area, implementing work-rest schedules, and providing personal heat-protective equipment. Where workers wear clothing that restricts heat removal or work in high radiant heat areas, the additional requirements apply at 82° F.

Feasible engineering controls must be implemented first. Engineering controls are methods of control or devices that remove or reduce heat or create a barrier between the worker and the heat. Employers have options when implementing control measures to protect their workers against heat illness and to comply with the rules. Examples include:

• Increased natural ventilation, such as open windows and doors when the outdoor temperature or heat index is lower than the indoor temperature and heat index
• Cooling fans or air conditioning
• Local exhaust ventilation at points of high heat production or moisture (such as exhaust hoods in laundry rooms)
• Reflective shields to block or reduce radiant heat
• Insulating or isolating heat sources from workers, or isolating workers from heat sources
• Elimination of steam leaks
• Cooled seats or benches
• Evaporative coolers

Next steps

Employers with indoor work areas where the temperature equals or exceeds 82° F should:

• Read the regulations in full.
• Review Cal/OSHA-created resources on the regulations.
• Ensure compliance with the regulations.