FED-OSHA has extended its targeted heat illness prevention program for another five years and expanded the number of industries under scrutiny.
OSHA on Apr. 10 updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on indoor and outdoor heat hazards, increasing the number of targeted industries where workers face the highest risk of heat illness to 55 from 33 and extending the program through 2031.
The move comes as OSHA continues work on a long-awaited federal heat illness prevention standard that would apply to industries with indoor and outdoor workers.
How the program works
The NEP focuses OSHA’s enforcement resources on high-risk sectors whose workers are most susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
Targeted industries include an array of sectors, both indoor and outdoor, including:
- Trucking and transportation
- Waste collection
- Certain manufacturing plants
- Warehousing,
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Landscaping
- Restaurants
How the updated program works
- OSHA will conduct programmed, random inspections in targeted industries when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or warning.
- Inspectors will evaluate heat risks during routine inspections on “heat priority days,” defined as days when the heat index reaches 80 degrees or higher.
- Even inspections opened for unrelated reasons can be expanded if inspectors observe potential heat hazards or see evidence in injury logs or worker statements.
What inspectors look for
During inspections, OSHA compliance officers assess whether employers have taken reasonable steps to protect workers from heat exposure. That typically includes reviewing:
- Access to drinking water, rest breaks and shaded or cooled areas.
- Work schedules and whether strenuous tasks are adjusted for heat.
- Acclimatization practices for new or returning workers.
- Training programs on recognizing and responding to heat illness.
- Oversight, such as designated supervisors who monitor conditions.
- With no federal heat illness standard in place, OSHA can issue citations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause, which requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.
Protecting workers in the heat
Employers should review their heat safety practices for the summer months. Here are some best practices:
- Monitor the heat index and establish trigger points for protective measures, starting around 80 degrees and increasing precautions at higher levels.
- Provide water, rest and shade, ensuring employees have frequent and easy access and are encouraged to hydrate regularly.
- Consider adjusting work schedules by shifting physically demanding tasks to cooler parts of the day and rotating workers.
- Develop a written heat illness prevention plan that outlines hazards, controls and emergency procedures.
- Implement acclimatization programs for new or returning workers, gradually increasing exposure over several days.
- Train supervisors and employees to recognize heat illness symptoms such as dizziness, confusion or excessive sweating and to respond quickly.
- Have in place an emergency response plan if a worker needs medical attention.