On August 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officially published their proposed standard addressing heat illness in outdoor and indoor settings in the Federal Register.
The proposed rule would require employers to evaluate their workplaces and implement controls to mitigate exposure to heat through engineering and administrative controls, training, effective communication, and other measures. Specific provisions include:
- Identification of heat hazards through periodic monitoring;
- Basic requirements at the initial heat trigger of 80 degrees ;
- Additional requirements at the high heat trigger of 90 degrees;
- Heat illness emergency response and planning; and
- Heat injury and illness prevention plan (written for most employers).
The rule also provides certain exemptions, including short-duration exposures, emergency response activities, telework, and workplaces that are kept below 80 degrees. OSHA has given a 120-day comment period with a deadline of December 30, 2024. AGC will continue to review the proposed rule, and work with members and chapters to assist in the development of our comments. For a refresher on everything AGC has done (to date) during the development of this proposal, click here.
Please contact Kevin Cannon or Nazia Shah for more information.