OSHA’s Proposed Heat Illness Prevention Standard Is at the White House for Review: What’s Next?
On June 11, 2024, OSHA sent its proposed standard on indoor/outdoor heat illness prevention to OIRA for review, which may be lengthy due to the Biden administration’s focus on protecting workers from excessive heat.
The proposed rule, which is not yet public, is expected to include temperature triggers, acclimatization requirements, mandatory rest breaks, written heat illness prevention programs, and employee training.
OSHA continues workplace inspections to ensure protection from excessive heat but has issued relatively few General Duty Clause citations and faced challenges in sustaining these violations in litigation.
The next step involves OIRA’s comprehensive review before OSHA can publish the proposed standard for public comment, with no set deadline for OIRA’s review completion.
