OSHA has moved closer to finalizing the “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” rule, sending it for a 90-day interagency review before publishing it in the Federal Register.
The proposed framework requires employers to create and maintain a written Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Program (HIPP), with small employers (up to 10 employees) being exempted.
Employers must identify heat hazards by monitoring weather conditions or measuring heat indices, with certain conditions triggering additional obligations such as providing cool-down areas and acclimating new/returning employees.
Employers may need to establish written medical treatment and emergency response plans, keep records of temperature monitoring and heat illness incidents, and communicate heat safety procedures at multi-employer worksites. Failure to comply could result in significant OSHA penalties.
