Cal/OSHA (the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health) issued new regulations requiring employers to take steps that protect workers from heat illness. These new regulations immediately impact indoor workplaces where the temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
If a workplace reaches or exceeds this temperature level, the employer must take the following steps:
- Provide access to a cool-down area (shielded from the sun and other radiant heat sources, kept below 82 degrees, and close to the work area with space for the number of workers on rest breaks)
- Offer access to fresh, cool, and free drinking water (close to work and cool-down areas)
- Encourage regular cool-down rest periods and allow employees requesting such periods to take one
- Monitor workers for signs of heat-related illness and offer emergency response or first aid to anyone showing symptoms
- Observe new and newly assigned workers over a 14-day acclimatization period
- Observe all workers during heat waves
- Provide regular training to workers and supervisors covering various topics related to heat illness, hydration, and other factors
- Maintain an effective Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan (IHIPP) with procedures for providing rest periods, cool-down areas, and access to drinking water, observation, and other tasks
Review the full regulations and the Cal/OSHA resources on the new regulations.
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
